The Vitamin D Gap – Estimating an adequate intake of Vitamin D

Vitamin D intake guidelines were established to prevent rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, diseases that resolve when the serum concentration of 25(OH)D reaches 25nmol/L (Wharton 2003). Emerging research has shown that raising vitamin D levels even further in the general population could have a far-reaching preventive impact on a variety of illnesses including: malignancy; musculoskeletal conditions; autoimmune conditions (diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis); cardiovascular conditions (hypertension, stroke, peripheral arterial disease); respiratory illness; and gynecological conditions (pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes).