Vitamin C Supplementation Guidelines for 6-Month-Old Infants
At 6 months of age, infants should receive approximately 50 mg of vitamin C daily, primarily through breast milk, formula, and the introduction of vitamin C-rich complementary foods. 1, 2
Recommended Daily Vitamin C Intake for 6-Month-Olds
- The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommends 50 mg/day of vitamin C for infants 7-12 months of age 1
- For infants 0-6 months, the recommended intake is 40 mg/day 1
- By approximately age 6 months, one feeding per day of foods rich in vitamin C (fruits, vegetables, or juice) should be introduced to improve iron absorption, preferably with meals 1
Sources of Vitamin C for 6-Month-Old Infants
- Breast milk provides adequate vitamin C for exclusively breastfed infants during the first 6 months 3
- Studies show that exclusively breastfed infants maintain plasma vitamin C concentrations at the same or higher levels than vitamin C-supplemented formula-fed infants 3
- Iron-fortified infant formula is also supplemented with vitamin C 1
- At 6 months, introduction of vitamin C-rich complementary foods is recommended: 1, 2
- Fresh fruits (oranges, strawberries)
- Vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes)
- 100% fruit juice (in limited quantities)
Special Considerations
- Vitamin C supplementation is generally not necessary for healthy term infants receiving adequate breast milk or formula 4
- For infants receiving parenteral nutrition, the recommended dosage is 15-25 mg/kg/day 1
- Vitamin C helps with iron absorption, which becomes increasingly important at 6 months when iron stores from birth begin to deplete 5, 2
- Approximately 27% of infants may have serum vitamin C levels compatible with moderate risk of deficiency at 6 months, suggesting the need for monitoring in some populations 6
Monitoring and Potential Deficiency
- Clinical vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) is rare in modern societies but can occur with severe malnutrition 1, 2
- Signs of vitamin C deficiency include:
- Poor wound healing
- Gum bleeding
- Irritability
- Bone pain 2
- Routine monitoring of vitamin C levels is not recommended in healthy infants 1
Practical Implementation
- Introduce vitamin C-rich foods at 6 months as part of complementary feeding 1
- Offer vitamin C-containing foods at the same time as iron-rich foods to enhance iron absorption 5, 2
- Avoid excessive heat during food preparation as vitamin C is heat-sensitive 2
- If supplementation is needed (rare in healthy infants), liquid vitamin preparations containing vitamins A, D, and C are available 4