Translations:Cholecalciferol/12/en

Vitamin D deficiency

Cholecalciferol is a form of vitamin D which is naturally synthesized in skin and functions as a pro-hormone, being converted to calcitriol. This is important for maintaining calcium levels and promoting bone health and development. As a medication, cholecalciferol may be taken as a dietary supplement to prevent or to treat vitamin D deficiency. One gram is 40,000,000 (40x10⁶) IU, equivalently 1 IU is 0.025 μg or 25 ng. Dietary reference intake values for vitamin D (ergocalciferol which is D₂ and/or cholecalciferol which is D₃) have been established and recommendations vary depending on the country:

In the US: 15 μg/d (600 IU per day) for all individuals (males, females, pregnant/lactating women) between the ages of 1 and 70 years old, inclusive. For all individuals older than 70 years, 20 μg/d (800 IU per day) is recommended.
In the EU: 15 μg/d (600 IU per day) for all people older than 1 year and 10 μg/d (400 IU per day) for infants aged 7–11 months, assuming minimal cutaneous vitamin D synthesis.
In the UK: a ‘Safe Intake’ (SI) of 8.5-10 μg/day (30-400 IU per day) for infants < 1 year (including exclusively breastfed infants) and a SI of 10 μg/day (400 IU per day) for children aged 1 to <4 years; for all other population groups aged 4 years and more (including pregnant/lactating women) a Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) of 10 μg/day (400 IU per day).