Vitamin D Requirements
Adequate intakes in vitamin D1
Age
| Infants | 10 µg or 400 IU |
| Children and adults from 1 to 50 years | 5 µg or 200 IU |
| Adults from 51 to 70 years | 10 µg or 400 IU |
| 71 years and older | 15 µg or 600 IU |
It should be noted that a number of experts consider these amounts to be too low.2,3 These recommendations also do not differentiate between the 2 forms of vitamin D supplements: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).2,4
Learn more about ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol ›››
The upper level (UL) of vitamin D is 2,000 IU per day.1 In fact, vitamin D may be ingested to levels of 250 µg (10,000 IU) by adults with no evidence of harm.5 40 IU of vitamin D equivalent to 1 µg of vitamin D.
DRIs for vitamin D were set to maintain 25(OH)D at 30 nmol/L, thereby preventing rickets and osteomalacia. Since that time, research has shown new roles for vitamin D beyond rickets and osteomalacia prevention.6-8
References
- Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for calcium phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D and fluoride. Washington DC: National Academy Press, 1997.
- Armas LG et al. Vitamin D2 is much less effective than vitamin D3 in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004;89:5387-5391.
- Vieth R. What is the optimal vitamin D status for health? Prog Biophys Mol Biol 2006;92:26-32.
- Houghton LA and Vieth R. The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:694-697.
- Hathcock JN et al. Risk assessment for vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:6-18.
- Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-281.
- Bischoff-Ferrari H et al. Estimation of optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for multiple health outcomes. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:18-28.
- Heaney, RP. The case for improving vitamin D status. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2007;103:635-641.
Keywords: vitamin D
Spotlight on Nutrition
Review the beneficial effects of vitamin D on both bone health and many chronic disorders.
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