I am sure some of you may have questions about the news and vitamin D
supplements. LLL is working on a statement and I will post it asap.
For now here are two things from LLL that i refer to frequently.
On Sunlight deficiency and Breastfeeding -
http://www.llli.org/ba/Nov02.html

On Rickets-

> http://www.llli.org/Release/rickets.html
>
> Vitamin D, Rickets and the Breastfed Baby
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> SCHAUMBURG, IL ( May 1, 1995) - Recent headlines in New Jersey, New
> York and Seattle have reported a few cases of rickets among Ethiopian
> and African-American Muslim children who were reportedly breastfed.
> Rickets, which can cause bone deformities and other health problems,
> is caused by a lack of vitamin D which prohibits the body from
> properly utilizing calcium. Primarily at risk for the disease are
> dark-skinned infants who are always heavily clothed or live where
> there is little sunshine. Babies of mothers who have low vitamin D
> stores may also be at risk.
>
> Research suggests that people of color, especially religious or
> cultural groups who wear enveloping clothing should expose their
> babies' uncovered cheeks to sunlight for just 20 minutes a day to get
> the needed vitamin D. In cases where this is not possible or the
> mother is not getting adequate vitamin D, doctors may prescribe a
> vitamin D supplement for the baby. According to La Leche League
> International, the world's recognized authority on breastfeeding,
> rickets has rarely been found in fully breastfed infants. This is true
> even in northern climates where there is less exposure to sunlight,
> which activates the formation of vitamin D. Research has shown that
> human milk contains adequate vitamin D for at least the first 6 months
> of life.
>
> Parents or health care providers who want more information on rickets,
> vitamin D in human milk or other information on breastfeeding issues
> may call La Leche League International at (847) 519-7730 or
> 1-800-LALECHE.
> Last updated Friday, September 15, 2006 by njb.
>
> Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:32:32 UTC 2007.