{"id":"174fd0d6579e87cf4b10bf5a93a0b21a","slug":"can-a-milk-allergy-cause-my-toddler-to-be-deficient-in-vitamin-d-and-calcium","question":"Can a milk allergy cause my toddler to be deficient in vitamin D and calcium?","answer":"A milk allergy itself doesn't directly cause a deficiency, but it does change where your toddler gets those nutrients — and that shift can make deficiencies more likely if you're not intentional about it.\n\nCow's milk is a major source of both vitamin D and calcium for most toddlers, so when it's off the menu, those nutrients become harder to hit by accident. The research suggests that toddlers avoiding cow's milk are at higher risk for deficiencies in both iron and vitamin D especially. Calcium deficiency is also a concern, since it's less commonly added to alternative milks than vitamin D is.\n\nThe protective approach is straightforward: ask your pediatrician about blood tests to check your toddler's current levels, and discuss whether supplementation makes sense for them. Fortified plant-based milks (oat, soy, almond) can help close the gap if they're labeled as fortified with vitamin D and calcium, but a pediatrician or nutritionist can make sure your toddler's getting what they need across the board. If your toddler shows signs of unusual fatigue, bone pain, or delayed growth, or if you notice any signs of a severe allergic reaction, contact your pediatrician right away.","sources":"[{\"pmid\":\"33705915\",\"title\":\"Vitamin D and iron status in children with food allergy.\",\"journal\":\"Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology\",\"year\":\"2021\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33705915/\",\"score\":0.86}]","thread_json":null,"topic":"allergies-and-nutrition","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-09-14T00:00:59.000Z"}