How much milk should children drink?

(Shutterstock photo)

(Shutterstock photo)

Pediatricians have never known how much milk a child should drink. Now researchers have established that for most children, two cups a day achieves the right balance.

Canadian scientists studied more than 1,300 healthy 2- to 5-year-olds, collecting data on diet and physical activity. They took blood samples to measure iron and vitamin D levels. Cow’s milk is the primary source of vitamin D for children, but dairy products can interfere with iron absorption.

The study, published online in the journal Pediatrics, found that after adjusting for other factors, two cups a day was enough to maintain sufficient vitamin D (more than 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood) without affecting iron levels.

But season of the year, skin pigmentation and body mass index had significant effects on the optimal amounts of milk. Children with darker skin, for example, needed three to four cups of milk to get sufficient vitamin D in winter.

Last modified: December 31, 2012