Vitamin D levels in milk substitutes not always enough, doctor says

Your child may be at greater risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency if they drink a milk substitute,a new Toronto study suggests.

According to therecent study atSt. Michaels Hospital in Toronto, children between the ages of one and sixwho drink only non-cow milk are twice as likely to have low levels of vitamin D as those who drink cow's milk.

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The results were published last month in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

A growing number of parents are giving their children milk alternatives such as rice, almond and soy beverages, said Calgary pediatrician Dr. Peter Nieman.

He saysmany parents are unaware that while Canadian regulations ensure cow milk products are fortified with vitamin D, the same is not true of milk substitutes.

Of course the assumption is being made and we know that when you assume things, you can make big mistakes, Niemansaid.I think people should look at labels and see if its vitamin D fortified."

Calgary dietitian Jessica Begg saidrice and almond milk sometimes contain significantly less vitamin D than cow milk evenif products are labelled as enriched.

A 2010 report by Statistics Canada said four per cent of Canadians are vitamin D deficient, with levels low enough to cause nutritional rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.

The study cited less frequent milk consumption as one of the factors behind the deficiencies.