The Department of Health commissioned the most recent report on Vitamin D supplementation, which was developed by the Nutrition Scientific Committee of the Food Standards Authority of Ireland (FSAI). It was published in February 2023, making specific recommendations regarding Vitamin D consumption for people aged 5-65 years living in Ireland.
In addition to the publication in 2021, scientific recommendations for healthy eating in older adults, recommendations for Vitamin D supplementation across the entire population are now available. The full complement of scientific recommendations is available on the FSAI website (www.fsai.ie/home). This information has been translated into a suite of healthy eating resources, which includes recommendations for Vitamin D supplementation, across all age groups and is available on the Healthy Ireland and HSE Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) websites
(www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/healthy-ireland/; www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/heal/healthy-eating-active-living.html).
Vitamin D is essential for bone and muscle health. It is difficult to meet sufficient Vitamin D targets with diet alone as it is available naturally at sufficient levels in only a few foods (e.g. oily fish, eggs, some spreads and foods fortified with Vitamin D). Vitamin D is made under the skin in direct sunlight; however, given the northerly latitude of Ireland geographically, it is not possible to obtain sufficient exposure outdoors during winter months. Vitamin D supplementation is therefore duly recommended.
Breast fed infants require 5 micrograms (µg) per day, whilst infants taking more than 300ml of formula do not require a Vitamin D supplement until their first birthday, as infant formula contains vitamin D.
All children should take a Vitamin D supplement in the winter months from Halloween to St. Patrick day. The dose is dependent on age: younger children should take 5 µg, and children aged 5-12 year should take 10 µg, progressing to 15 µg for teenagers and adults.
For individuals who have darker skin or reduced exposure to sunlight, they are advised to take a supplement all year round. Pregnant women are also encouraged to take a 15 µg supplement for the duration of their pregnancy.
Older adults should continue to take 15 µg in the winter months, however if they are less mobile and do not have regular exposure to sunlight and have darker skin, the dose should be increased to 20 µg per day, all year round.
The Healthy Ireland Healthy Eating Subgroup are working on producing some Vitamin D information resources for distribution to pharmacies, health centres and GP practices to advise health care professionals and the general public on appropriate doses of vitamin D supplementation. These resources are expected to be available by the end of October 2023.
