Vitamin D Fortification Strategies
Vitamin D3, administered through cod liver oil, has been used in infant nutrition in northern Europe since the 1700sat a daily dosage of a small teaspoon . This experimental dose of cod liver oil was really effective, as discovered in studies performed two centuries later the 375 IU of vitamin D3 in one teaspoon was confirmed as being the most appropriate for children .
Milk fortification with vitamin D started in the USA in the 1930s . Milk was initially fortified using two different methods: by irradiating milk with vitamin D or feeding the cows irradiated yeast . In the 1940s, a simple and valid method based on direct supplementation of vitamin D concentrate to milk was developed it is still in use today .
When considering vitamin D food fortification, it is important to evaluate whether such a public health intervention is likely to be cost-effective . Usually, micronutrient fortification is considered the most cost-effective public health intervention . With reference to vitamin D food fortification, there are only a few reports available on its cost-effectiveness. The available studies have reported that systematic vitamin D fortification may indeed be highly cost-effective . The following distribution of costs for a typical food fortification programme was determined as follows: 80% recurrent production costs, 8% marketing and education costs, 7% food control and monitoring costs, and 5% other production costs .
Is Vitamin D Milk And Whole Milk The Same
Reduced-fat , low-fat , and nonfat milk have vitamin A and vitamin D added, since these vitamins are lost when the fat is removed. Natural levels of vitamin D are low, so most milk producers add vitamin D to whole milk. Check the nutrition facts label to learn more about vitamins and minerals in milk.
What Is The Difference Between Vitamin D Milk & 1% Milk
All types of cow’s milk you’re likely to find at the local supermarket are fortified with vitamin D it doesn’t occur naturally in any of them. Vitamin D and others, including vitamin A, are added to much of the milk available in the United States during processing, also known as fortifying. Some milk companies have replaced the “whole milk” label with “vitamin D milk,” which may be a bit misleading.
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Whole Cows Milk Or Lower Fat Cows Milks
Children can drink plain whole cows milk. Whole cows milk is the same as lower fat cows milk except that it is higher in fat. It is important for young children to get fat in their diet for healthy growth and development. If your child has excessive weight gain or a family history of obesity, high cholesterol or triglycerides, or cardiovascular disease, talk to your childs doctor or nurse about the type of cows milk to give.
How Much And How Often
Cows milk or fortified soy beverages can be a part of a childs balanced and diverse diet but not the only thing. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend children aged 12 through 23 months get 1 to 2 cup equivalents of dairy a day, including cows milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified soy beverages, and soy-based yogurt. If your child drinks too much cows milk, he or she may not be hungry for other foods with important nutrients. Some experts say that consuming too much cows milk can make it harder for your childs body to absorb the iron he or she needs from foods.
Continue to follow your childs cues to decide when he or she is hungry or full. Talk with your childs doctor or nurse for more questions about adding cows milk or fortified soy beverages in his or her diet.
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What Percentage Is Vitamin D Milk
The amount of vitamin D in milk
whole milkmilkmilkmilk
Keeping this in view, is there a difference between whole milk and vitamin D milk?
Skim milk, 1 percent milk, 2 percent milk and whole milk all have the same amount of protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D is added to all of them. The amount of fat is the only difference between them, and its a big difference.
Subsequently, question is, how much vitamin D is in a glass of milk? In general, an 8-ounce glass of milk contains at least 100 IUs of vitamin D, and a 6-ounce serving of yogurt contains 80 IUs, but the amount can be higher depending on how much is added. Some soy and rice milks are fortified with about the same amount, but check the label since not all contain vitamin D.
Likewise, is Vitamin D milk bad for you?
Drinking whole milk may have some benefits.Research has found that among adult women, higher intake of high-fat dairy was actually linked to less weight gain than intake of low-fat dairy. Since its a fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin D may be better absorbed when its paired with the fat in whole milk.
Which type of milk has the most vitamin D?
Whole milk contains 5 percent of your daily value of vitamin A and 24 percent of your daily value of vitamin D. After fortification, reduced-fat milk contains 9 percent of your daily value of vitamin A and 29 percent of your daily value of vitamin D.
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Should Vitamin D Be Added To Uk Milk And Bread
Free vitamin D supplements will be sent to over two million clinically vulnerable people in the UK this winter. Over 80% of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 are vitamin D deficient compared with the general population. In a small study, a high dose of vitamin D appeared to reduce the severity of COVID-19. While some scientists disagree about whether vitamin D should be used more widely, a consensus is emerging that we should all take vitamin D supplements.
But the UK should go further and fortify basic food such as flour and milk with vitamin D, which is common practice in Canada, Sweden, Finland, and Australia. After all, research shows that a third of people dont take the pills they are given. And many of the vulnerable people being sent the pills take several other medications and suffer from ailments that increase memory loss so may be confused. Many of the people who need it most wont be taking the free pills.
Historical Perspective
A century ago, over 80% of children in industrialised Europe and the northern hemisphere had bone damage caused by rickets. Growing up in Canada in the 1910s, my grandfather had rickets and lived out his life with bow legs. Rickets is caused by vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin because the body creates it when skin is exposed to sunlight. In Canadas long, cold winters, not much skin gets exposed to the sun.
Deficiency
Potential Benefits
Reasons for Caution
Finding the Middle Ground
Avoiding Excess
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Extensive Evidence Links Adequate Vitamin D To Better Coronavirus Outcomes
Davies led previous research, released as a pre-print in June, which found getting enough vitamin D could significantly improve COVID-19 outcomes, particularly in vulnerable groups such as the elderly.
There’s since been even more studies supporting the theory that vitamin D could be beneficial against the virus.
A small study published last month found that coronavirus patients who were given a highly potent form of vitamin D were significantly less likely to need intensive care, and none of them died. That indicates the nutrient could reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection and lower the risk of complications, the researchers said.
Multiple studies have found an association between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 outcomes, although they did not establish a causal link.
A study published in September found that patients with sufficient vitamin D were significantly less likely to face dangerous complications of the virus, such as difficulty breathing or unconsciousness.
And another small study found people with a vitamin D deficiency were twice as likely to be infected in the first place.
While this growing body of evidence is promising, more research is needed to better understand how vitamin D could play a role in preventing infection, or helping to heal patients.
How Much Vitamin D Do I Need
Most people get as much vitamin D as they need from sunlight. If you get enough sunlight, you probably dont need to worry about extra vitamin D in your diet.
However, some people dont get enough even in a sunny country like Australia. Those most at risk are older people, especially if they live in residential care and dont get outdoors very often.
Others who might not get enough vitamin D from sunlight are those with darker skin, who cover up for cultural or religious reasons, who wear protective clothing, and who avoid the sun, for example because they have had skin cancer. Obese people, babies of mothers who dont have enough vitamin D, and people with certain medical conditions or on some medicines may also be at risk of low vitamin D.
The amount of vitamin D you need varies with your age:
- Everybody under the age of 50 needs 5 micrograms each day . A microgram is one millionth of a gram.
- People aged 51 to 70 need 10 µg/day .
- People 71 and over need 15.0 µg /day .
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Efficacy Of Current Fortification Strategies In Preventing Vitamin D Insufficiency
Cross-sectional studies suggested that current US/Canadian fortification practices are not effective in preventing hypovitaminosis D, particularly among vulnerable populations during winter . Cross-sectional studies in the United States and Canada also revealed that meeting the DRI for vitamin D intake is not sufficient to prevent vitamin D insufficiency in the winter in Canada and throughout the year among younger and older African American women in the United States . The strong association between vitamin D insufficiency and risks of chronic diseases has raised concerns regarding the efficacy of current fortification mechanisms, such as milk fortification, in the United States and Canada to prevent low circulating concentrations of vitamin D . Chronic disease risks were linked directly to low vitamin D intake, with significantly greater risks of type 1 diabetes mellitus , rheumatoid arthritis , multiple sclerosis , and hip fractures . Many randomized, placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated that higher concentrations of vitamin D administered as dietary supplements are effective in reducing fracture rates among elderly subjects . We know much less about the efficacy of vitamin D fortification of foods in reducing the risks of osteoporosis and other chronic diseases.
Preparation Of Vitamin Solutions
a)Footnote 1The theoretical calculation for preparing vitamin solutions by the establishment should aim for finished product vitamin target levels, mid-range of regulatory requirements, and also allow for seasonal variations, processing variables such as rework which may contain previously added vitamins, and the shelf-life of the product. Some examples of theoretical calculations can also be found in Appendix 1.
b) Written instructions for preparing vitamin solutions based on the theoretical calculations, should be posted in the preparation area.
c) The persons responsible for preparing the vitamin solution should be trained and knowledgeable in such procedures.
d) In order to assure accuracy of measurement, the establishment uses appropriate measuring devices and of sufficient sensitivity for the dilution being performed. e.g. a 1000 ml graduated cylinder would not be used to measure 10 ml of vitamin premix.
e)Footnote 1Dry vitamin mixes must be prepared according to the supplier’s direction and maintained in solution throughout the production. Constant agitation may be required to prevent settling.
f)Footnote 1Vitamin solutions must be prepared just prior to use and, when not in use, must be stored in such a manner as to minimize loss of vitamin potency, preferably in insulated vessels 4°C. Storage time must be kept to a minimum, no longer than 24 hours. Left-over solution at the end of the day must be discarded and not reused.
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Why Is Vitamin D Added To Milk
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If youve ever looked closely at your milks label, you may have noticed that vitamin D is added to milk. Why is vitamin D added to milk, you may ask? The story behind vitamin D and milk actually goes back to the early 20th century.
In the 1900s, rickets, a childhood bone disorder caused by not getting enough vitamin D, impacted a good number of children. In fact, around 80 percent of children in Boston had rickets at that point in history.
Around that same time, scientists began to understand the roles milks nutrients play in the body. For example, they learned that milks minerals, specifically calcium and phosphorus, were key to bone and teeth development.
In 1922, Dr. E. V. McCollum discovered that vitamin D could prevent rickets, because it was needed to help the calcium to get absorbed, so there was a scramble to get vitamin D into the diets of American children. Because vitamin D is not prevalent in many foods, fortifying milk with additional vitamin D was a natural solution, since it also contained key minerals for bone development.
Vitamin-fortified milk began to appear in the 1920s and became more common by the 1930s. Today the milk found in your supermarket is fortified with vitamin D, which has played a role in making rickets now a rare disease in the United States.
Is It Possible To Take Too Much Vitamin D
Although rare, its possible to get too much vitamin D. For healthy adults, this typically only happens if you take excessive quantities of high-dose supplements without having your blood levels monitored .
Side effects of too much vitamin D include nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and frequent urination . Staying under the daily maximum limit of 4,000 IU vitamin D will avoid the risk of toxicity .
If you arent getting all the vitamin D you need through your diet, vitamin D3 supplements can help you get that extra vitamin D boost for optimal bone and muscle health.
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Here’s Why Vitamin D Is Added To Milk
If you drink store-bought cow’s milk, chances are that it contains more than just milk. It’s probably been fortified with vitamin D, whether the milk label advertises the fact or not . Although adding vitamin D to milk is not an FDA requirement in the U.S., most milk producers voluntarily add it anyways, and have been doing so since the 1930s.
Vitamin D fortification began as a response to alarming rates of rickets a disease that seriously hampers bone development in children, and can result in deformities. It’s caused by a deficiency of vitamin D and calcium, which are closely connected since our bodies need vitamin D to be able to properly absorb calcium. Patsy M. Brannon, a professor in the Department of Nutrition at Cornell University, told HuffPost, “Rickets became an epidemic as you had the Industrial Revolution and with it, childhood labor.” Kids weren’t getting enough sunshine. And since there are only a few good food sources of vitamin D including fatty fish like salmon and tuna, and egg yolks deficiencies became rampant.
Is Milk The Best Source Of Vitamin D
Vitamin D. One cup of milk provides 25 percent of the minimum daily recommended intake of vitamin D for adults, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. While cod liver oil and fatty fish, like salmon and herring, are the best natural food sources of vitamin D, most Americans dont consume these foods regularly.
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Vitamin D In Dairy Products
Dairy cow breeding started around 5000 years ago during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age in northern and central Europe . Milk is normally associated with cow milk however, milk from other animal species is also consumed .
Milk is a complete food providing several nutrients, specifically carbohydrates , proteins, fat, minerals, and vitamins, contributing a mean daily intake of 134 kcal, 8 g of proteins, and 7.3 g of fat to the average human diet . Water is the most represented compound in all different milks, ranging from water content lower than 50% in whale milk to water content of around 90% in donkey milk .
Milk is a natural source of calcium and vitamin D these nutrients have a synergic interaction in the human body . If the level of ionized calcium in the blood falls, the parathyroid hormone is secreted by the parathyroid gland, stimulating the conversion of vitamin D to its active form, calcitriol with a consequent decrease in vitamin D status, determined by measuring the amount of the inactive form. Vitamin D, as calcitriol, influences calcium absorption in the intestine, and lack of vitamin D is associated with a reduced absorption of dietary calcium .
Vitamin D Fortification Of Milk
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Vitamin D is unique in that, unlike most vitamins, which come only from food, you can synthesize vitamin D in your skin by spending time in the sun. Vitamin D deficiency causes bone softening, which leads to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Few foods naturally supply this vitamin, which aids in the absorption of calcium in the intestine. Most milk produced commercially in the United States is fortified with vitamin D, but around 33 percent of Americans still fall short on vitamin D intake, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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What Are The Most Popular Vitamin D Sources
Direct sunlight on the skin triggers the bodys ability to make vitamin D. When its not possible to get enough of the sunshine vitamin from the sun, people need to get their vitamin D sources from food.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, people should aim to get most of the nutrients in their diet from food, And since vitamin D is naturally present in very few foods, this advice can be difficult for this nutrient. Milk is fortified to be an good source of vitamin D. Its also a great way to add 8 other essential nutrients, including 8 grams of high-quality protein. Find out more about how and why vitamin D is added to milk.
