Cereal Grains Should be Fortified with Vitamin D, Calcium 28372

Cereal Grains Should be Fortified with Vitamin D, Calcium

PISCATAWAY, N.J.-- Vitamin D and calcium should be a part ofmandatory cereal grain fortification to help reduce the prevalence ofosteoporosis and colon cancer and for overall improvement in health, accordingto a commentary published in the August issue of The American Journal ofClinical Nutrition (80, 2:264-270, 2004) (www.ajcn.org).

The scientists, from Rutgers University, noted mean dietary intakes ofvitamin D and calcium in the U.S. adult population are far below the adequateintake (AI) values recommended by the federal government. These dietarydeficiencies are responsible for elevated risks of osteoporosis and colon cancerin the United States, the authors of the commentary said.

The current Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, allows for optionaladdition of moderate amounts of calcium and vitamin D to cereal grain products,but the practice is not widespread.

According to the Rutgers researchers, fortification of cereal grain productswith vitamin D and calcium would result in increases of 400 mg calcium andgreater than or equal to 50 International Units (IU) or 200 IUs of vitamin D.Therefore, they concluded, cereal grain fortification with vitamin D and calciumwould result in a significant reduction in the incidences of osteoporosis andcolon cancer and an overall improvement in public health, with little risk.