What does it look like?
- Vitamin D supplements are available for oral intake and intramuscular therapy. Vitamin D3 is the preferable supplement form and is well tolerated.
- Conversions for Vitamin D3
- Sources: 40 IU = 1 μg
- [serum]: 2.5 nmol/L = 1 ng/mL
- The principal source of Vitamin D comes from exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight (see Table).
Regional recommendations for sun exposure times for individuals with moderately fair skin. Times for people with highly pigmented skin would be3–6 times longer.
Region | Summer 10am or 2pm | Winter10am or 2pm | Winter12 noon |
|---|---|---|---|
Northern Australia (e.g. Cairns) | 6-7 min | 9-12 min | 7 min |
Central Australia (e.g. Brisbane) | 6-7 min | 15-19 min | 11 min |
South Australia | |||
Sydney | 6-8 min | 26-28 min | 16 min |
Melbourne | 7-9 min | 40-47 min | 29 min |
Hobart | 7-9 min | 40-47 min | 29 min |
Adapted from9
- Small amounts of vitamin D can be found in foods such as oily fish, egg yolks and fortified foods such as milk, orange juice, cereals and margarine. However, even Vitamin-D rich food sources generally provide ~ 40–150 IU per serve and will not meet Vitamin D requirements.