Define Recommended Dietary Allowances for Vitamin D?

The recommendations of vitamin D are expressed as IU. 1 IU is defined as the activity contained in 0.025 mcg of cholecalciferol. The recommended allowances for vitamin D as suggested by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for Indians is 200-400 IU, as highlighted in Table 7.3. A vitamin D supplement providing 400 to 800 IUs may be essential for the elderly, particularly who consume less milk and are totally home bound. Table 7.3 presents the recommendations laid down by the joint FAO~WHO 2004 committee on the vitamin and mineral requirements of humans. It would be a good exercise for you to compare these levels with those recommended by the ICMR.

* Units: for vitamin D, 1 IU = 25 mg, 40 IU = 1 mg, 200 IU = 5 mg, 400 IU = 10 mg, 600 IU = 15

mg, 800 IU = 20 mg;

Source: ICMR (1989) and Vitamin and Mineral Requirements in Human Nutrition, FAO/WHO 2004.