The Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland was requested to fast track their current work on Vitamin D and older people to provide an evidence-base to the Department of Health to underpin public health policy for vitamin D supplementation in older people aged 65 plus years.
Under the Terms of Reference, the Scientific Committee was asked to:
1. Look at the vitamin D requirements for older adults and their current vitamin D intake status.
2. Consider how best to achieve vitamin D requirements, taking total vitamin D intake into consideration.
3. Determine the older population sub-groups that need vitamin D supplementation.
4. Determine the level of supplementation required within these sub-groups and the appropriate vitamin D supplement.
5. Consider any special circumstances.
6. Deliver scientific advice for population-based guidance to the Department of Health before the end of September 2020.