Vitamin D Guidelines: Are They Adequate?

Are you getting enough vitamin D? Probably not.

By Paula Dranov

From Reader's Digest

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Many vitamin D experts no longer consider the government's recommended daily allowance (RDA) for D, in chart below, to be enough. Dr. Holick and others now prescribe 1000 IU* daily from the sun, supplements or food -- and sometimes more. The RDA will be re-examined starting in 2008 and may be increased to 1000 IU (or higher) for everyone over age one.

Current Guidelines

		Birth to 50		51 to 70		71+
Men & Women		5 mcg or 200 IU		10 mcg or 400 IU		15 mcg or 600 IU

Best Food Sources for Vitamin D

FOOD	AMOUNT	D CONTENT
Cod liver oil	1 tablespoon	1360 IU*
Salmon, cooked	3½ ounces	360 IU
Mackerel, cooked	3½ ounces	345 IU
Tuna, canned in oil	3 ounces	200 IU
Sardines, canned in oil, drained	1¾ ounces	250 IU
Milk, all types, fortified	1 cup	98 IU

*IU (international units)
SOURCE: NIH, Office of Dietary Supplements

From Reader's Digest - September 2006

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Vitamin D Guidelines: Are They Adequate?

Are you getting enough vitamin D? Probably not.

From Reader's Digest - September 2006

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