RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Vitamin D therapy: problems and prospects
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 29
OP 31
DO 10.1136/dtb.13.8.29
VO 13
IS 8
YR 1975
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/13/8/29.abstract
AB Natural vitamin D (D3, cholecalciferol) reaches the body from animal sources in the diet and from endogenous skin synthesis by the action of solar ultraviolet irradiation. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is used for fortifying proprietary foods such as margarine (and milk in the USA and Canada). These compounds have equal potency in man. A regular intake of 2.5 micrograms (100 i.u.) daily for adults and about 10 micrograms (400 i.u.) daily for children under 5 years old is usually recommended to prevent nutritional osteomalacia and rickets.