Do we all really need to take vitamin D supplements?

Marketwatch reports:

Vitamin D is a key player in bone health, but do we need to take supplements to get enough of it?

The United Kingdom’s independent Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, a community of experts that advises government agencies, thinks so. It announced draft recommendations last week for a 10 microgram dietary supplement of vitamin D for U.K. citizens aged 1 year or older.

Last year, the vitamin supplement industry was worth about $36.7 billion, a record high, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, and industry experts expect it will continue to grow. While sales of most letter vitamin supplements decreased in that time, sales of vitamin D — which helps the body absorb calcium from foods and supplements — increased 8.1%.

The Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit public policy consulting organization, recommends a daily dose of 600 international units, or 15 micrograms, for the average American or Canadian.

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