Spotlight on vitamin D fortification
Posted by
Judith Jarvis, MS, RD @ 11:05 AM
With new research being published daily, and updated intake recommendations from the Institute of Medicine expected soon, vitamin D is a nutrient to watch these days.
When I visited my dermatologist this week for a routine screening, she told me that in order to reduce my risk for skin cancer I should use SPF 30 sunscreen every day before I leave the house and if spending the day outdoors, reapply every two hours. With less sun exposure and vitamin D production in the skin, the vitamin D in my diet becomes even more important.
Our current environment — with its limited exposure to sunlight and use of sunscreens, an aging population who have a decrease in cutaneous synthesis, and a high incidence of obesity (vitamin D is sequestered in fat stores) — contributes to low vitamin D status in the U.S. In such an environment, vitamin D-fortification of foods becomes a critically important public health strategy for achieving recommended intakes to support bone health and vitamin D’s many other purported health benefits.
Did you know?
- Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency affects all age groups.
- Only three out of 10 individuals (>1 year old) consume the recommended daily intake of vitamin D – and most individuals over 50 years do not achieve adequate intakes.
- Dairy products supply the majority of the vitamin D in the diet – nearly 70% of the daily intake of children two to 18 years old.
- Milk is the number one dietary source of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus for Americans two years and older.
To read more about vitamin D and vitamin D fortification, see the article Nancy Auestad and I wrote for Neutraceuticals World published April 1.
