EFSA ups upper intake levels for vitamin D

Related tags Vitamin d European food safety authority

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has doubled the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for vitamin D from 50 micrograms to 100 micrograms after a review of safety data for adults and teenagers. A level of 50 micrograms is suggested for 1-10 year olds and 25 micrograms for infants.

“Despite a continuing paucity of data for high vitamin D intakes in children and adolescents, the UL was adapted to 100 µg/day for ages 11-17 years, considering that owing to phases of rapid bone formation and growth this age group is unlikely to have a lower tolerance for vitamin D compared to adults,” found EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA).

“The same applies also to children aged 1-10 years, but taking into account their smaller body size, a UL of 50 µg/day is proposed. For infants, the UL of 25 µg/day based on previously available data relating high vitamin D intakes to impaired growth and hypercalcaemia was retained as limited additional evidence has emerged since the previous risk assessment.”

“Data on vitamin D intakes from surveys in 14 European countries indicate that intakes in high consumers are below the revised ULs for vitamin D for all population groups.”

The NDA also performed a calcium review but said the UL for adults of 2,500mg stood due to a lack of new data.