Nutrient Intake Calculator – Vitamin D

Note: These calculated values are estimations and for reference only. Vitamin D level may vary according to food sources and cooking methods

Daily RNI for vitamin D from 2013 Chinese DRIs¹⁴

Additional tips to prevent vitamin D deficiency

• Some foods such as dairy products and breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin D, check the food labels to identify these vitamin D sources⁶
• Sun exposure is important as vitamin D is formed when the skin is exposed to sunlight⁶
  • Expose the arms, hands and face to sunlight for 5 to 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times a week is recommended by the Hong Kong Department of Health
  • Note a longer exposure may be required in winter, as well as for at-risk people such as those with darker skin, with little sun exposure and chronic diseases
  • Parents are also recommended to take babies and children outdoors for a short period daily to increase sun exposure (while the UK National Health Service advises that babies under 6 months should be kept out of direct and strong sunlight¹⁵)
• Certain population groups may require vitamin D supplementation
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfed and partially breastfed infants to be supplemented with 10 mcg daily, until the infant is weaned to at least 1 L/day of vitamin D-fortified formula or cow’s milk¹⁶
  • The UK National Health Service suggests that the general population, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, should consider supplementing 10 mcg daily during the autumn and winter¹⁷

Other articles that you might be interested in :

[Info Card] Vitamin D in Paediatric Nutrition

References

1. Student Health Service. Vitamins. Available at: https://www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/health/health_dn/health_dn_vit.html. Accessed on 15 Jun2021.
2. EFSA. EFSA J. 2009;7(9):1227.
3. EFSA. EFSA J. 2014;12(2):3579.
4. EFSA. EFSA J. 2015;13(5):4096.
5. EFSA. EFSA J. 2015; doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4182.
6. Family Health Service. Parent information: Vitamin D. Available at: https://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/child/30078.html. Accessed on 15Jun2021
7. Amegah AK et al. PLOS. 2017;12(3):e0173605.
8. Qin LL et al. Nutrients. 2016;8(5):301.
9. Amraei M et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018;9:7.
10. Voltas N et al. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):E3196. doi: 10.3390/nu12103196. 3
11. U.S. National Institutes of Health. Vitamin D. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/. Accessed on 15Jun2021.
12. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central 2% milk. Available at: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/684918/nutrients. Accessed on 15Jun2021.
13. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Serving size vs portion size is there a difference. Available at: https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/nutrition-facts-and-food-labels/serving-size-vs-portion-size-is-there-a-difference. Accessed on 04May2020.
14. Chinese Nutrition Society. Chinese dietary reference intakes. 2013.
15. UK National Health Service. How to get vitamin D from sunlight. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-get-vitamin-d-from-sunlight/. Accessed on 18Jun2021.
16. American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2008;122:1142-1152.
17. UK National Health Service. Vitamin D. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/. Accessed on 18Jun2021.

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