New Calcium and Vitamin D Recommendations

As of November 30, 2010, the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies has revised the recommendations for both calcium and vitamin D, two important micronutrients. According to the revisions:

Vitamin D

• Up to age 70: 600 International Units (IUs) per day
• Ages 71 and older: 800 IUs per day

Calcium

• Ages 1 - 3: 700 milligrams (mg) per day
• Ages 4-8: 1000 mg per day
• Ages 9-18: 1300 mg per day
• Men ages 19-70: 1000 mg per day
• Women ages 19-50: 1000 mg per day
• Women ages 51 and older: 1200 mg per day
• Men ages 71 and older: 1200 mg per day

The research on calcium's role in bone health shows that 600 IUs vitamin D per day meets the needs of almost everyone in the United States and Canada, although people 71 and older may require up to 800 IUs per day due to the age-related physical and behavioral changes.

The Institute of Medicine believes the majority of Americans and Canadians are getting enough vitamin D and calcium, based on surveys of blood levels of both calcium and vitamin D.

However, some adolescent girls may not get quite enough calcium, and there is a greater chance that the elderly may fall short of both calcium and vitamin D. These people should increase their intake of foods containing these nutrients and possibly take supplements.

Upper Intake Levels

Upper intake levels represent the upper safe boundary and are not the amounts people need or should strive to consume.

Upper Intake Levels for Vitamin D

• Ages 1-3: 2500 IUs per day
• Ages 4-8: 3000 IUs per day
• Ages 9 and above: 4,000 IUs per day

Upper Intake Levels for Calcium

• Ages 1-8: 2500 mg per day
• Ages 9-18: 3000 mg per day
• Ages 19-50: 2500 mg per day
• Ages 51 and up: 2000 mg per day

More About Calcium

• Milk, Dairy and Calcium
• Dietary and Supplemental Calcium
• Are You Getting Enough Calcium?

More About Vitamin D

• Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency
• Vitamin D
• A Day's Worth of Vitamin D

_Source:

_{Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. "Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium." Accessed November 30, 2010. http://www.iom.edu/vitamind.}