Children from age 1 year and adults need 10 mcg (400IU) of vitamin D a day; this includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people at risk of vitamin D deficiency
babies up to age of 1 year need 8.5 to 10 mcg of vitamin D a day (1)
Vitamin D supplements are advised for specific population groups (2):
all pregnant and breastfeeding women, particularly teenagers and young women
infants and children under 4 years (breast fed, non-breast fed and mixed fed)
6 months – 5 years (unless drinking 500 mL or more of infant formula) – 280 IU/day
babies 1 month – 6 months if mother is vitamin D insufficient/ deficient – 340 IU/day
people over 65
people who have low or no exposure to the sun; for example, those who cover their skin for cultural reasons, who are housebound or confined indoors for long periods
people who have dark skin, for example, people of African, African-Carribean and South Asian origin
These recommendations are thought by many authorities to be too low. In the absence of adequate skin synthesis these amounts will not maintain serum levels of vitamin D in the replete (or normal) range.
To convert doses in international units to micrograms, divide by 40
References
(1) NHS (2020). Vitamin D. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/ (accessed 16 May 2022)
Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.