New Health Claims for Vitamin - Big Y® World Class Market®

Vitamin D can do more than strengthen bones — it may also help prevent cancer and boost immunity

You need to take vitamin d with calcium to help your body absorb the bone-building mineral, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants you to know about it. The FDA has proposed a new health claim for food containing calcium plus vitamin D, which would allow manufacturers to label those foods as able to potentially reduce the risk for osteoporosis.

While all individuals experience age-related bone loss, more women than men develop osteoporosis later in life, putting them at higher risk for fractures. The new health claim is based on a review of the latest data and eliminated any restrictions for age, sex and race. The claim also dropped the requirement that there are limits to the benefit of taking calcium intakes about 200 percent of the current daily value (1,200mg) for women over 50.

The FDA’s action signals a change likely to come within the next few years that will significantly boost daily recommendations for vitamin D. Experts now say vitamin D may also help prevent some types of cancers, aid muscle function and enhance immunity in addition to strengthening bones.

Setting the Bar Higher
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are updated every five years, so the next change is not expected until 2010. But many experts already recommend 1,000 International Units (IU) a day for older women, many of whom are vitamin D deficient. The current RDA for vitamin D is 400 IU per day for women and men ages 51-70. Doctors note that it is important to maintain adequate calcium and vitamin D intake during all stages of life.

Big Benefits of D
Experts say that as many as 80 percent of older women around the world may be deficient in vitamin D, increasing their risk for fractures. Raising the RDA could have significant preventive benefits; new studies show vitamin D plays many other roles in the body besides helping to maintain bone strength. Some experts say that 85 percent of the functions of vitamin D are as cell function promoters, rather than just controlling calcium levels. The other benefits are cancer prevention, muscle function and enhanced immunology. Additionally, two separate studies found higher blood levels of vitamin D were associated with lower risks of breast and colon cancer. The studies concluded that taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D each day and spending 15 minutes in the sun might cut the risk of breast cancer in half and reduce the incidence of colon cancer by two-thirds.

What You Can Do
To Get More Vitamin D:
• Drink low or nonfat milk fortified with vitamin D. There are around 100 IU in an 8-ounce glass.
• Try vitamin D-fortified juices or cereals.
• Eat one or more servings of fatty fish, such as salmon, each week. Fatty fish contains 200 – 600 IU in a 3-ounce serving.

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Source: Reprinted in part from Food & Fitness Advisor Copyright© 2008 Belvoir Media Group, LLC., 800 Connecticut Avenue, Box 5656, Norwalk, CT 06856-5656.