Marc Joseph Nutrition - Blog

Leading scientists affiliated with the Council for Responsible Nutrition, Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto), and Creighton University published a review article in the most recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition calling for a five-fold increase in the recommended tolerable upper intake level (UL) of vitamin D.

(UL = the maximum level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects)

The current vitamin D UL is 2000 IU (50 micrograms/day). The article’s authors review the existing research and make the case that the UL should be raised to 10,000 IU (250 mcg/day).

The UL established by the FNB [Food & Nutrition Board] for vitamin D (50 mcg, or 2000 IU) is not based on current evidence and is viewed by many as being too restrictive, thus curtailing research, commercial development, and optimization of nutritional policy. Human clinical trial data published subsequent to the establishment of the FNB vitamin D UL published in 1997 support a significantly higher UL.

The authors note that the initial UL was set based primarily on research associated with the function of vitamin D in bone formation, but that more recent research has shown vitamin D to play important roles in other areas (e.g., immunity), and that potentially higher necessary levels may be necessary for optimal function. The authors cite several clinical trials using as much as 1250 mcg/day of vitamin D with no observed negative side effects.

The primary source of vitamin D is sunshine, with the average diet providing less than 10 mcg (or 400 IU/day) — and that’s only in people regularly consuming significant amounts of vitamin D fortified foods, such as some dairy products.

As discussed frequently in this blog, vitamin D deficiency is widespread, with some estimates suggesting as much as 60 percent of people in Northern latitudes aren’t getting enough. Deficiency rates are also high among certain groups at all latitudes, such as among the elderly and people who work inside all day.

See this recent post for more vitamin D discussion and embedded links to several other posts relevant to the topic:

Higher Vitamin D Levels May Help Protect Against Multiple Sclerosis

Hopefully the Food and Nutrition Board, which is responsible for setting recommended intake and ULs, will seriously consider this call for an increase in vitamin D levels.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 14th, 2007 at 9:28 pm and is filed under Immune Disorders, Osteoporosis, Vitamins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.