Canada's Department of Health is set to permit vitamin D supplements in yogurt and kefir, a move aimed at addressing the country's widespread vitamin D deficiency, says Blacklock's Reporter.With up to 7% of Canadians lacking sufficient vitamin D, this change is expected to have a significant impact on bone health."Vitamin D is important for bone health, yet many people are not getting enough," the Department of Health stated in a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement. The move is seen as a significant step forward, given the country's long, dark winters, which limit natural vitamin D production.According to Statistics Canada, the highest prevalence of deficiency is among men aged 20 to 39, with up to 7% affected. The health department has long recommended daily vitamin D supplements for breastfeeding infants and has also added vitamin D to soy milk since 1997.The regulatory change is not expected to impact the price of yogurt and kefir, given the competitive nature of the food market. With yogurt sales alone worth $2.9 billion annually, this move is seen as a positive development for public health.Vitamin D is essential for bone health, and sunlight is a leading source. However, Canada's geographic latitude makes it challenging for Canadians to get adequate vitamin D from sunlight alone. “The geographic latitude of Canada means inadequate ultraviolet exposure to stimulate formation of vitamin D in the skin for a large portion of the year,” said the report. “For example, at 52 degrees north in Edmonton, no synthesis of vitamin D occurs in the skin between October and March.”The health department has recommended daily doses of cod liver oil in the past to account for deficiencies during winter months.
Canada's Department of Health is set to permit vitamin D supplements in yogurt and kefir, a move aimed at addressing the country's widespread vitamin D deficiency, says Blacklock's Reporter.With up to 7% of Canadians lacking sufficient vitamin D, this change is expected to have a significant impact on bone health."Vitamin D is important for bone health, yet many people are not getting enough," the Department of Health stated in a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement. The move is seen as a significant step forward, given the country's long, dark winters, which limit natural vitamin D production.According to Statistics Canada, the highest prevalence of deficiency is among men aged 20 to 39, with up to 7% affected. The health department has long recommended daily vitamin D supplements for breastfeeding infants and has also added vitamin D to soy milk since 1997.The regulatory change is not expected to impact the price of yogurt and kefir, given the competitive nature of the food market. With yogurt sales alone worth $2.9 billion annually, this move is seen as a positive development for public health.Vitamin D is essential for bone health, and sunlight is a leading source. However, Canada's geographic latitude makes it challenging for Canadians to get adequate vitamin D from sunlight alone. “The geographic latitude of Canada means inadequate ultraviolet exposure to stimulate formation of vitamin D in the skin for a large portion of the year,” said the report. “For example, at 52 degrees north in Edmonton, no synthesis of vitamin D occurs in the skin between October and March.”The health department has recommended daily doses of cod liver oil in the past to account for deficiencies during winter months.
