Vitamin D recommendations by accredited medical associations provide guidance on daily Vitamin D intake.
Vitamin D Recommendations
How much vitamin D should you be taking? There is no easy answer because nobody really knows how much vitamin D humans really require. Making sure that you and your family members have enough vitamin D is often an individualized approach and depends on a number of factors, including the time spent outdoors in summer sunshine, the types of food in the diet, and other factors. However, based on scientific data, various medical associations have provided some guidelines.
This website cannot make or endorse any recommendations. The best advice and answers come from your physician or other healthcare professional. Your physician may require a blood test to review your current blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D₃ (calcidiol) – the major metabolite of vitamin D₃ to determine your vitamin D nutritional status. The recommendations are summarized below.
Vitamin D Recommendations:| Group Making Recommendation | Recommended for | Recommended Daily vitamin D₃ Intake /day |
| Canadian Pediatric Society1 | Pregnant women | 2,000 IU |
| Canadian Cancer Society2 | Adults, during fall & winter and all year for those at risk of low vitamin D | 1,000 IU |
| Canadian Dermatology Association 3 | All adults concerned about vitamin D | 1,000 IU |
| Osteoporosis Canada4 | Most healthy adults | 800 IU - 1,000 IU |
| Osteoporosis Canada4 | High risk adults | 800 IU - 2,000 IU |
| Canadian Pediatric Society5, Health Canada6, American Academy of Pediatrics7 | Breastfed Infants | 400 IU |
| Canadian Peditatric Society8 | Breastfed infants in Canada’s north (>55°N latitude) |
800 IU |
| American Academy of Pediatrics7 | Partially breastfed infants and formula fed infants who are ingesting < 1000 mL of fortified formula/day | 400 IU |
| American Academy of Pediatrics7 | Children and adolescents | 400 IU |
| Canada’s Food Guide9 | Adults over 50 (as a supplement to diet) | 400 IU |
| Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine10 | Infants, children, adolescents, adults up to age 50 |
200 IU |
The bottom-line is that many people find it difficult to obtain vitamin D from natural sources. For this reason, many physicians routinely recommend a vitamin D supplement. Talk to you healthcare practitioner to understand what is right for you!
1Vitamin D supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian Mothers and Infants. Canadian Paediatric Society 2007
2Canadian Cancer Society: Vitamin D Recommendation.
3Safe and effective way to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D. Canadian Dermatology Association Position Statement 2007.
4Vitamin D: A key factor in good calcium absorption.
5Vitamin D supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian Mothers and Infants. Canadian Pediatric Society 2007
6Vitamin D Supplementation for Breastfed infants; 2004 Health Canada Recommendation
7Wagner, Carol L et. al. Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children and Adolescents Paediatrics 2008; vol. 122 No. 5 p. 1142-1152
8Vitamin D supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian Mothers and Infants. Canadian Pediatric Society 2007
9Canada’s food Guide: Vitamin D for people over 50: Background
10Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) Recommended Intakes for Individuals, Vitamins. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine 2004.