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Discover Vitamin D

You know that you need calcium for strong bones, but did you know that you also need vitamin D to help your body absorb calcium? This winning combination of nutrients is now provided by your favorite yogurt—Yoplait, the only leading yogurt with vitamin D in every cup!

Our bodies need vitamin D for the absorption of calcium to build and maintain strong bones. Studies show that calcium absorption improves when taken along with Vitamin D.1 Other studies show that vitamin D may help prevent bone fractures later in life.2, 3

Researchers are also investigating links of vitamin D to prevention of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain cancers.4

Getting enough?

Research shows that vitamin D is an important nutrient people are not getting in adequate amounts. People older than 50 need more vitamin D than younger people. Adult women are particularly likely to have inadequate vitamin D intakes. Finally, a new study suggests that our body’s need for vitamin D may be higher than thought before.5

Current recommendations for vitamin D are:

Age (years)

Amount (International Units)

0-18

200

19-50

200

51-70

400

70+

600


Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. National Academy Press. 1997.

Finding Vitamin D in Foods

Yoplait yogurt is the only leading brand of adult yogurt fortified with Vitamin D in every cup to provide 10%-20% of your daily requirements in just one serving. Fluid milk is fortified with 25% of the daily requirements for vitamin D.

Other food sources of vitamin D include fatty fish such as salmon, cod liver oil, organ meats, fortified ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal, egg yolks, and mushrooms.

Vitamin D Content of Selected Foods

Food

Amount

Vitamin D
(International Units)

Cod Liver Oil

1 Tablespoon

1,360

Salmon, cooked

3½ ounces

360

Milk, skim, vitamin D fortified

8 ounces

100

RTE cereal, vitamin D fortified at 10% of Daily Value

1 cup

40-50

Liver, beef, cooked

3½ ounces

30

Mushrooms, raw

½ cup

27

Egg

1 whole

20


Facts about Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D. Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference

1. McCormick CC. Passive diffusion does not play a major role in the absorption of dietary calcium in normal adults. J Nutr. 2002; 132(11):3428-30.
2. Trivedi DP, Doll R, Khaw KT. Effect of four monthly oral vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation on fractures and mortality in men and women living in the community: randomised double blind controlled trial. BMJ 2003;326:469-475.
3. Feskanich D, Willett WC, Colditz GA. Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal women.Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77(2):504-11.
4. Holick, MF. Vitamin D: Importance in the prevention of cancers, type I diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. AJCN. 2004; 79: 362-71.
5. Heaney RP, Davies KM, Chen TC, Holick MF, Barger-Lux MJ. Human serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol response to extended oral dosing with cholecalciferol. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jan; 77(1):204-10.

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