D (calciferol)

EU RDA (1) Per Day
European Union Recommended Daily Amounts for Nutritional Labelling of Food Products.
5 µg

Best Sources
Sunlight, fish, eggs, butter and dairy products.

Functions
Aids in bone and tooth formation; helps maintain heart action and nervous system.

Deficency Symptons
In children: rickets and other bone deformities. In adults: calcium loss from bones.

Toxic? (4)
High intakes may cause diarrhoea & weight loss.

Tips
Storage, processing & cooking do not appear to affect this vitamin.

Did you know?
Cholesterol is used to synthesise this vitamin upon sun exposure.

Definitions
EU RDA - European Union Recommended Daily Amounts. These are the values used for vitamins for the nutritional labelling of food products.

Sources
EU RDA - Directive, 90/496/EEC, 1990.
Also information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the American Institute for Cancer Research, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(1) EU RDA - European Union Recommended Daily Amounts for Nutritional Labelling of Food Products.

(2) Safe intake per day.

(3) There is no EU RDA for vitamin K.

(4) Note that some vitamins in large or very large excess could produce toxic symptoms. Always keep to the recommended dosage as advised by your doctor or medical advisor.

Source:
The European Food Information Council