ABSTRACT
Vitamin needs have historically been estimated from the amount of milk consumed by breastfed infants. This approach may be limited by the fact that the milk consumption of breastfed infants is lower than formula-fed infants and the biovallability of the various vitamins may be different human milk compared to formula. For now, using the recommendations of AAPCON as well as clinical observation and experience will determine the appropriate vitamin needs of the population. The maternal diet strogly influences the concentration of certain watersoluble vitamins in human milk. Multivitamin supplements should be given to breast fed infants of malnourished mothers. Overt clinical deficiency of the ninne water-soluble vitamins is not observed in full-term, breast-fed infants of adequately nourished mothers or in commercial formula-fed infants. Vitamins and minerals are incorporate into processed formulas to help provide an essentially complete diet for infants. Most commercial infant formulas contain adequate quantities of vitamins to meet the recommended dally allowances if the infant consumes 750 ml of formula. According to standards recommended by the AAPCON, infants consuming adequate amounts of commercial iron-containing formulas do not need vitamin and mineral supplementation in the first 6 months of life if formula continues to be used with appropriately fortified solid foods. The exact vitamin needs of the preterm infant are unknown. These needs are proportionately greater than term infants due to low stores at birth, sometimes delayed nutritional intervention, increased demands of more rapid growth rate and less complete intestinal digestion and absorption. When fed human milk, the preterm may not receive adequate amounts of some vitamins. Thus human milk supplemented with water-soluble vitamins should be given to preterm infants. It has been recommended by AAPCON to continue this vitamin supplement until the infant's intake exceeds 300 kcal/day or until the infant's acheives a body weight of 2.5 kg