From the Guidelines
Orange juice does not naturally contain vitamin D, but it can be fortified with vitamin D, making it a potential source of this essential nutrient. According to the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1, fortified foods such as milk, yogurt, and orange juice provide dietary sources of vitamin D. The study highlights the importance of vitamin D in calcium absorption, bone health, and immune function.
Key Points to Consider
- Orange juice is not a natural source of vitamin D
- Fortified orange juice can contain vitamin D, typically around 100 IU (2.5 mcg) per 8-ounce serving
- Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, bone health, and immune function
- Other natural sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, egg yolks, and mushrooms exposed to UV light, or spending time in sunlight
Recommendations
- Check the nutrition label on orange juice cartons for "fortified with vitamin D" if you're looking to increase your vitamin D intake
- Consider other natural sources of vitamin D, such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and mushrooms exposed to UV light, or spending time in sunlight
- Be aware that insufficient amounts of vitamin D can lead to impaired dietary calcium absorption and weakened bones, as noted in the study 1.
From the Research
Vitamin D in Orange Juice
- Orange juice can be a source of vitamin D, but it is often fortified with vitamin D to increase its nutritional value 2, 3.
- The fortification of orange juice with vitamin D can help increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, which is essential for maintaining good health 3.
- A study found that consuming orange juice fortified with 1000 IU of vitamin D3 daily for 12 weeks increased serum 25(OH)D concentrations by 150% and decreased serum parathyroid hormone concentrations by 25% compared to baseline 3.
Natural Sources of Vitamin D
- Natural sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, egg yolk, and offal such as liver 4.
- Some foods like milk are fortified with vitamin D in some countries, but dietary vitamin D intake is often low due to limited dietary sources 4.
- Sunlight exposure is also a significant source of vitamin D, and it stimulates the production of vitamin D3 in the skin during the summer months 5, 6.
Importance of Vitamin D
- Vitamin D is essential for maintaining good health, and its deficiency can have numerous deleterious effects on health 6.
- Higher levels of vitamin D are associated with protection against cancer development, including melanoma, and can help prevent chronic diseases 6.
- A combination of sunlight exposure, nutrition, food fortification, and supplements is desirable to obtain sufficient vitamin D status in the population of most countries throughout the year 5.