Updated Recommendations From Institute of Medicine Highlight Important Role of Adequate Vitamin D and Calcium

CHICAGO, Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released new dietary recommendations for calcium and vitamin D intakes, known as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), used broadly by health professionals and policy makers to guide consumers' dietary patterns. Citing a strong body of new scientific evidence, the IOM based their recommendations on bone health outcomes, confirming the importance of vitamin D and calcium in promoting bone growth and maintenance through various stages of life. It is imperative for consumers to get adequate amounts of these essential nutrients every day, preferably through foods.  

Specifically, the committee recommended daily calcium intakes, or Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), ranging from 700 to 1300 milligrams depending on the bone health needs for each age range and gender, from bone growth and development in children and adolescents to prevention of bone loss in the elderly. The daily calcium recommendations are similar in amounts to previous DRI values. In contrast, vitamin D recommendations significantly increased for all ages. The committee recommended daily vitamin D intakes of 600 international units (IU) for those between the ages of 1-70 years and 800 IU for those older than 70 years, up from previous recommendations of 200-600 IU.(1)

Milk is an efficient, affordable and available food source of these two nutrients and it's important for Americans of all ages to ensure they are meeting their nutrient intake goals through the recommended three daily servings of nutrient-rich dairy foods in their diets (for those older than 9 years of age).(2)

Milk is the number one dietary source of both calcium and vitamin D in the American diet and enjoying dairy foods can play a key role in meeting the new DRIs. (3,4,5)  A cup of milk not only provides 300 milligrams of bone-building calcium and 100 IU vitamin D, it also supplies seven other essential nutrients including potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins A and B12, riboflavin and niacin (niacin equivalents). Three 8-ounce glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk or equivalent vitamin D-fortified milk products daily can provide the majority of calcium and half of vitamin D recommended by the IOM. In addition to milk, some yogurt and cheeses are also fortified with vitamin D. Research supports that the exclusion or avoidance of dairy foods can lead to inadequate intakes of these vital nutrients.(1)

For more information on the science that shows the key role of dairy foods in lifelong bone health, visit http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Pages/DairyandBoneHealthResearchSummary.aspx

National Dairy Council

A leader in nutrition research and education since 1915, National Dairy Council provides credible, up-to-date news on dairy nutrition research, public policies on nutritional issues and special dairy nutrition campaigns. Please browse the News Alert archives on nationaldairycouncil.org for the latest news on dairy nutrition. If you have additional questions, feel free to call the Dairy Media Hotline at 312-240-2880 or Contact Us.

National Milk Producers Federation

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF's 31 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 40,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. Visit www.nmpf.org for more information.

International Dairy Foods Association

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $110-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States.

(1)  Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board. Consensus Report: Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. November 2010.

(2)  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. June, 2010.

(3)  Hiza, HAB, Bente L, Fungwe. (2008) Nutrient Content of the U.S. Food Supply, 2005. (Home Economics Research Report No. 58). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

(4)  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2010. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 23. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page, http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl.

(5)  Nutrition Impact, LLC. 2010. Dairy Nutrient Contributions, NHANES (2003-2006). Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [2003-2004; 2005-2006] [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm]

SOURCE National Dairy Council