What is optimum health? What is the full potential of a baby? At 16, how near and far will that young adult see? Will the young adult have perfect pitch? How fast a runner? How about smell, and taste, and touch? How fast will wounds heal? How resistant to to infection? How can we know?

Everyone agrees that good nutrition is especially important for growing children. In my opinion, vitamins A, B, C, and D are the foundation of good nutrition. In the early days of science, food was identified to contain micronutrients essential for good health. These were named “factors” A, B, and C. A fourth important micronutrient, vitamin D, was found to be produced in the skin upon exposure to sunlight.

For the first time in human history, parents can independently control the amount of vitamins and calories that their children consume. For the first time in human history, pediatricians can help parents optimize vitamins. VItamins A, thiamine, niacin, and C are inexpensive. Thiamine, niacin, and vitamin D are safe. Regular sun exposure is safe. There is much to gain and almost nothing to lose by providing children with extra vitamins.

Vitamins A, B1, B3, C, and D are each the subject of continuous, ongoing research. Hundreds of scientific papers are being published each year about each vitamin. There is plenty of information to fill a textbook on each vitamin. Each of these vitamins prevents dreaded diseases that once ravaged industrialized societies.

Sadly, there is only one textbook on the biochemistry of vitamins. It is titled “The Nutritional Biochemistry of the Vitamins.” Worse, it is not required reading for physicians, pediatricians, and other health care providers.

I don’t know what the optimal doses of vitamins A, B, C, and sunshine are for children. I know it is a difficult question, and that the answer is different for each individual child. I’m certain, however, that for many children the current doses are too low, and that the doses I recommend are safe for all children.

The doses I recommend for children can be found here. There’s much to gain and little to lose by giving the vitamins a try.