Revisions of Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D

Revisions of Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D

 A long-awaited revision of the Dietary Reference Intakes for calcium and vitamin D was issued this week by the Institute of Medicine.
The new Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for calcium range from 700 mg/day for children ages 1-3 to 1,300 mg for children 9-18 years old. The calcium RDA for most adults is 1000 mg. For women 51 and older and for men 71 and older, the calcium RDA is 1,200 mg.
For vitamin D, the RDA is now 600 IU for children and most adults and 800 IU for men and women 71 and older. These values include people who get minimal sun exposure.
These RDAs are somewhat higher than the previous values, but not as high as some experts had predicted, especially for vitamin D. The IOM press release states:
The majority of Americans and Canadians are getting enough vitamin D and calcium, the committee determined from reviewing national surveys of blood levels. Some adolescent girls may not get quite enough calcium, and there is a greater chance that elderly individuals may fall short of the necessary amounts of calcium and vitamin D. These individuals should increase their intake of foods containing these nutrients and possibly take a supplement.
And the report brief states:
The committee… reviewed a range of health outcomes, including but not limited to cancer, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, falls, immune response, neuropsychological functioning, physical performance, preeclampsia, and reproductive outcomes. This thorough review found that information about the health benefits beyond bone health—benefits often reported in the media—were from studies that provided often mixed and inconclusive results and could not be considered reliable. However, a strong body of evidence from rigorous testing substantiates the importance of vitamin D and calcium in promoting bone growth and maintenance.
The full IOM report, a report brief, and a press release at this URL:
http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D.aspx

Source: Susan Nitzke, PhD, RD, UW-Extension Nutrition Specialist