Compliance with Dietary Guidelines and Increased Fortification Can Double Vitamin D Intake: A Simulation Study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Public Health Nutrition
• Dietary Assessment

Background:

• Vitamin D is crucial for bone health and immune function, with low intake being a common concern.
• Recommended daily vitamin D intake is 10 µg/day, often difficult to achieve through diet alone, especially with limited sun exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of adhering to Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) and increasing vitamin D fortification to meet recommended vitamin D intake levels.
• To assess the impact of these dietary strategies on vitamin D intake in adults across the UK, Netherlands, and Sweden.

Main Methods:

• Utilized national dietary survey data from adults in the UK, Netherlands, and Sweden.
• Simulated theoretical increases in vitamin D intake based on compliance with FBDG, enhanced fortification of common foods (margarines, milk), and a combination of both.

Main Results:

• Median usual vitamin D intake varied by country, with the UK at 2.4 µg/day, Netherlands at 3.4 µg/day, and Sweden at 5.3 µg/day.
• Compliance with FBDG for key sources (fish, margarine, meat) increased intake, while doubling fortification in margarines and milk also showed significant boosts.
• Combining FBDG compliance and enhanced fortification demonstrated the greatest potential, raising vitamin D intake to levels between 7.9-8.9 µg/day across the studied populations.

Conclusions:

• Dietary measures, specifically FBDG adherence and increased food fortification, hold substantial potential for improving vitamin D status in adults.
• These strategies can effectively increase vitamin D intake, contributing significantly towards achieving the recommended 10 µg/day, even with minimal sun exposure.