Leading Microbiologists call for a change in daily recommendation guidelines for vitamin D

Writing in the July 28 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Anthony Norman, Professor of Biochemistry and Biomedical science at The University of California, Riverside said, "It is high time that worldwide vitamin D nutritional policy, now at a crossroads, reflects current scientific knowledge about the vitamin's many benefits and develops a sound vision for the future,"

The authors of the report claim that by increasing the recommended intake levels of vitamin D by amending worldwide policy guidelines would reduce the frequency of and bring beneficial effects to certain diseases such as cancer, metabolic and immune diseases and boost bone health. In addition increased levels for pregnant and lactating women and newborns could help eradicate rickets in children.

Typically recommended daily intakes currently sit at between 200 and 600 international units (IU) per day. The study suggests this could be increased to levels closer to 2000 IU.

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin, due to its manufacture in the body on exposure to sunlight. This means an intake in recommended allowance particularly relevant in the winter months in the majority of North America and Western Europe.