May 6th, 2008
Vitamin D has garnered tremendous attention in the past few years as its role in the prevention of many diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and diabetes in addition to its well-known role in maintaining bone health. Many organizations such as Health Canada, the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society and others recommend vitamin D supplementation.
Recently, researchers at McGill University analysed data from the Canadian Community Health Survey to assess both the total intake of vitamin D from food as well as determine the key food sources that provide vitamin D in the diet.
Based on food intake alone, the average intake just barely reaches the Adequate Intake levels* for younger adults (see tables below). Food alone does not come close to meeting the needs of those over 50 years.
Foods that contribute the most vitamin D in the diet come from the Milk and Alternatives and the Meat and Alternatives food groups. Within these groups it is not surprising that fortified liquid milk is the main source. What is interesting is that as the population ages, more vitamin D comes from the Meat and Alternatives food group and less from milk.
Although fatty fish is a good source of vitamin D, the consumption is not common among all Canadians. As a result, foods such as beef and eggs contribute the most vitamin D from the Meat and Alternatives Food Group followed by processed red meat, poultry and other red meats. One egg yolk and 100 g cooked beef both contain approximately 25 IU of vitamin D.
| Adult males (years) | Vitamin D intake (IU/d) | Contribution Milk Products (%) | Contribution Meat & Alternatives (%) | Contribution Other (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-30 | 234.8 | 55.3 | 26.5 | 10.1 |
| 31-50 | 220.0 | 43.6 | 34.8 | 13.2 |
| 51-70 | 281.6 | 33.4 | 50.1 | 12.7 |
| 71 + | 267.2 | 41.8 | 38.1 | 13.1 |
| Adult females (years) | Vitamin D intake (IU/d) | Contribution Milk Products (%) | Contribution Meat & Alternatives (%) | Contribution Other (%) |
| 19-30 | 185.6 | 56.8 | 24.0 | 10.2 |
| 31-50 | 206 | 45.8 | 34.6 | 11.0 |
| 51-70 | 200.4 | 41.7 | 36.6 | 13.5 |
| 71 + | 234.6 | 39.0 | 43.9 | 11.4 |
On June 15, 2025 Health Canada issued an Information Update stating that �Health Canada is aware of the growing body of evidence on the role of vitamin D in relation to health.� The update outlines plans for a comprehensive review to update the Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamin D. Until this review process is complete, Health Canada encourages Canadians to eat well and be active to reduce the risk of chronic diseases according to the recommendations in Eating Well with Canada�s Food Guide.
Read background information on Vitamin D for people over 50 summarized by Health Canada.
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