Vitamin D Study

New Calcium and Vitamin D Intake Recommendations: What You Need to Know Hello, Shaklee Family! The Institute of Medicine (IOM) just released the report "Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and  Vitamin D," which establishes higher recommended intake levels for vitamin D. The new Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for children and adults aged 1–70 has been increased to 600 IU/day and  the RDA for those aged 71+ has also been raised to 800 IU/day. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level  was raised from 2,000 to 4,000 IU/day for adults. Calcium intake RDAs remained essentially the same with a range of 700–1,300 mg per day depending on age and sex. The full report can be accessed at http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D/Report-Brief.aspx. We recognize that the goals of the IOM are to make broad-based recommendations for the entire  population and develop reference values that serve to guide nutrient guidelines for the United States  and Canada. We applaud the IOM for updating the vitamin D and calcium nutritional reference values established in 1997 – for the potential far-reaching benefits to public health – but we also believe that such modest adjustments in recommended intakes may underserve the many population groups who  are at potential risk for low intakes of calcium and/or vitamin D. We also want to take this opportunity to reiterate that Shaklee’s mission is to support optimal  health for everyone and, in this case, we believe the potential benefits of calcium and vitamin D supplementation go well beyond simple nutritional adequacy and bone health. Scientific research links vitamin D inadequacy to an increased risk for certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes, and higher intakes of vitamin D may help reduce the risk of these diseases.  These are precisely the reasons why we conducted our own extensive review of the scientific literature and sponsored two independent vitamin D research studies. We also recently adjusted our individual vitamin D intake recommendations based on an individual’s risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency. It has been estimated that as many as 80% of North Americans may have “insufficient” blood levels of vitamin D, and there are many reasons why low vitamin D levels seem to be commonplace  today. The season or calendar month is a major risk factor for vitamin D insufficiency because  sunlight is less efficient during winter months at triggering vitamin D production in the skin.  The risk for vitamin D insufficiency rises as sunscreen use and time spent indoors increases. The latitude of your residence is another determinant of sun exposure, and those with darker  skin are less efficient at converting sunlight to vitamin D. Other factors that can increase risk for vitamin D inadequacy include increasing age, increasing body mass index, lack of exercise, and low intake of fish and other vitamin D–rich foods in the diet. While we support the IOM for the long-awaited adjustments to the calcium RDAs, increases to  the vitamin D RDAs, and the increased Safe Upper Levels of Intake for vitamin D, we also remain committed to individualized and potentially higher vitamin D intake recommendations based on an individual’s unique vitamin D risk factor profile. For more information about calcium, vitamin D, and your health, talk with your doctor or health  care professional to discuss the steps you should take to achieve optimal calcium and vitamin D intakes. To obtain an individual vitamin D intake recommendation from Shaklee Health Sciences,  based on your own risk factor profile, take the Vitamin D questionnaire by clicking here. Sending warmest regards, Jamie McManus, M.D. Chairman, Medical Affairs and Health Sciences Shaklee Corporation Thought you all might find this interesting.  I did the questionaire on the Shaklee website and I found  that I wasn't getting enough Vitamin D, and we are in Sunny Baja! So all you people up north, might  want to try the questionaire.