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:
* abortion of calcium and phosphorus, helping to form bones and carry out other mineralization
* the growth of skin cells
Sources of Vitamin D:
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 |
| 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
Vitamin D deficiency can impaire bone mineralization and may contribute to several bone diseases such as:
* bone softening diseases, rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults
* osteoporosis.
Vitamin D Overdose
Overdose of vitamin D can cause kidney damage by causing excess calcium to be deposited in the organs.