12.01.10
Consumers should feel confident that the vitamin D intake levels needed to achieve the numerous health benefits demonstrated by growing scientific literature does not present a health risk, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington, D.C. Andrew Shao, PhD, senior vice president, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, reached this conclusion based on a benefit-risk assessment he co-authored with his CRN colleague John Hathcock, PhD, senior vice president, Scientific and International Affairs, and academic researchers from Harvard University, Tufts University and the University of Zurich (Switzerland). The review was published in the July issue of Osteoporosis International. In recent years, research has pointed to benefits from vitamin D beyond bone health and at doses considerably higher than what is currently recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). This analysis compared the benefits of supplemental vitamin D as measured by the incidence of falls, fractures, cardiovascular outcomes and colon cancer with the potential risk of adverse effects as measured by elevated blood calcium. The authors concluded the vitamin D intake needed for optimal benefit is far from that which poses a risk.