[New dietary reference values vitamin D]

Abstract

The benefit of vitamin D has been heavily debated over the past few years. There are claims that vitamin D not only fulfils a protective function for bone health, but for diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease as well. The question is: to what extent have such claims been scientifically proven? And should people at risk of a deficiency use vitamin D supplements to be on the safe side, or not? The Health Council of the Netherlands evaluated the dietary reference values for vitamin D and the accompanying recommendations on supplementation.