Although human can produce its own vitamin D in the skin, vitamin D should not be excluded from the diet. Vitamin D is essential for the following body functions:
Vitamin D can be manufactured by the action of sunlight on the skin.
| Life Stage Group | RDA/AI* µg / day |
Upper Limit µg / day |
| Infants 0-6 months 7-12 months |
5* 5* |
25 25 |
| Children 1-3 years 4-8 years |
5* 5* |
50 50 |
| Males 9-50 years 51-70 years >70 years |
5* 10* 15* |
50 50 50 |
| Females 9-50 years 51-70 years >70 years |
5* 10* 15* |
50 50 50 |
| Pregnancy <19 years 19 - >50 years |
5* 5* |
50 50 |
| Lactation <19 years 19 - >50 years |
5* 5* |
50 50 |
RDA = Recommended Dietary Allowances
AI* = Adequate Intakes
UL = Upper Limit
µ = one millionth, 0.000001
Vitamin D deficiency can impaire bone mineralization and may contribute to several bone diseases such as:
Overdose of vitamin D can cause kidney damage by causing excess calcium to be deposited in the organs.