Dietary Reference Values Set for Vitamin D Intake

31 Oct 2016 --- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set dietary reference values for the intake of vitamin D. The advice has been set for the use of risk managers in European countries who use it for making recommendations to consumers.

The Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has defined an adequate intake of 15 µg per day for healthy individuals over one year of age, including pregnant and lactating women. The dietary reference values for infants aged 7-11 months have been set at 10 µg per day.

The setting of dietary reference values for vitamin D is part of the review of reference values for nutrients and energy intakes established in 1993. It helps risk managers make specific recommendations on the intake of nutrients to enable European consumers to make healthy diet choices.

Vitamin D can also be synthesized in the body by exposure to the sun, reducing the amount of vitamin D needed through the diet. However, the dietary reference values for vitamin D are based on the assumption of minimal exposure to the sun with resulting limited levels of synthesized vitamin D.

This way, the dietary reference values will ensure that European consumers take in sufficient levels of vitamin D irrespective of their geographic location and exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D plays an important role in the body, in particular by helping to maintain normal bones and muscle function. Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may have a negative impact on bone density, resulting in soft bones in children (rickets) and fragile, misshapen bones in adults.

EFSA recommends further research is needed on the impact of dietary intake and skin synthesis of vitamin D. It’s assessment for European consumers follows that of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which has recommended dietary reference values for vitamin D for the UK population.