Vitamin D: EFSA sets dietary reference values

EFSA has set dietary reference values (DRVs) for the intake The amount of a substance (e.g. nutrient or chemical) that is ingested by a person or animal via the diet. of vitamin Dietary substance needed in very small amounts to support normal growth and maintenance of health in humans and animals. Most vitamins are 'essential' as they are not made within the body. D. EFSA provides this advice to risk managers in European countries who use it for making recommendations to consumers.

The Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition The science of how diet relates to the body's need for sustenance. and Allergies (NDA) defined an adequate intake A dietary recommendation used when there isn't enough data to calculate an average requirement. An adequate intake is the average nutrient level consumed daily by a typical healthy population that is assumed to be adequate for the population's needs. ( AI The adequate intake (AI) is a dietary recommendation used when there isn't enough data to calculate an Average Requirement. An AI is the average nutrient level consumed daily by a typical healthy population which is assumed to be adequate for the population's needs.) of 15 µg per day for healthy individuals over one year of age. This includes pregnant and lactating women. The DRVs for infants aged 7-11 months have been set at 10 µg per day.

The setting of DRVs for vitamin D is part of the review of reference values for nutrients and energy intakes established in 1993. It helps risk managers make specific recommendations on the intake of nutrients to enable European consumers to make healthy diet choices.

Vitamin D can also be synthesised in the body by exposure Concentration or amount of a particular substance that is taken in by an individual, population or ecosystem in a specific frequency over a certain amount of time. to the sun, reducing the amount of vitamin D needed via the diet. The DRVs for vitamin D are based on the assumption of minimal exposure to the sun with resulting limited levels of synthesised vitamin D. The DRVs will ensure that European consumers take in sufficient levels of vitamin D irrespective of their geographic location and exposure to sun light.

Vitamin D plays an important role in the body, in particular by helping to maintain normal bones and muscle function. Vitamin D deficiency A lack of a necessary factor in, for example, the diet or the environment which results in harm to the growth of an organism. may have a negative impact on bone density, resulting in soft bones in children (rickets) and fragile, misshapen bones in adults.

EFSA recommends further research on the impact of dietary intake and skin synthesis of vitamin D.

EFSA’s assessment for European consumers follows that of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which has recommended DRVs for vitamin D for the UK population Community of humans, animals or plants from the same species.. A joint explanatory note is attached to EFSA’s scientific opinion Opinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment. that sets out the respective approaches taken by the two organisations in deriving DRV values for Vitamin D – including methodology, the data used and geographical area covered in the assessment.

• Scientific opinion on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin D
• Outcome of a public consultation on the Draft Scientific Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin D
• Joint explanatory note by the European Food Safety Authority and the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition regarding dietary reference values for vitamin D