Vitamin D status of nursing mothers is critical

Mothers need to have their Vitamin D blood levels tested.

"That is, when pregnant women keep their levels where we think prehistoric human levels were, about 50 ng/mL, breast milk becomes a rich source of vitamin D. First Carol and Bruce gave 2,000 IU per day, then 4,000 IU per day and finally 6400 IU of D3 per day to lactating women. Only at 6400 of D3/day did the women maintain both their own 25(OH)D levels and the levels of their breast feeding babies above 50 ng/mL. On 6400 IU/day, the vitamin D activity of the breast milk went from about 80 to 800 IU/L. Quite a discovery, and another reason for all of us to keep our levels above 50 ng/mL."

This quote comes from the Vitamin D Council at http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/2008-may.shtml