Study Urges 2-Cup Daily Milk Limit for Kids

Two cups of milk a day are enough for most kids, researchers say based on a new study. That gives children enough vitamin D from the milk, the study found. But it avoids reducing their supply of iron, as larger amounts of milk can do. The study included more than 1,300 healthy children. Parents reported how much milk the children drank. Researchers measured their levels of vitamin D and iron. Children who drank more than 2 cups of milk daily had lower levels of iron than those who drank 2 cups. But those who drank 2 cups a day had enough vitamin D and iron. The exception was children with darker skins. In the winter, they needed to drink 3 to 4 cups of milk to get enough vitamin D. The journal Pediatrics published the study online. HealthDay News wrote about it December 17.