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Food & Groceries: Mushrooms Are A Source Of Vitamin D

(NC)-Many of us are aware that vitamin D is essential for bone health and strong teeth. Although there are many gaps in our understanding of other health effects of vitamin D, new research suggests that higher levels of the vitamin may also be important for helping to prevent chronic diseases and conditions including certain cancers, heart disease, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Lately scientists have been finding that many of us may not be getting enough vitamin D, particularly if we live in latitudes like Canada, are older, spend most of our time indoors, use sunscreen regularly, have darker skin or have diets low in the vitamin.

We get our vitamin D from two sources: exposure to sunlight, which allows the body to produce its own vitamin D using ultraviolet light and cholesterol in the skin; and a limited number of food sources including fortified milk, fish, eggs and mushrooms. Mushrooms are the only vegetable that contain natural vitamin D. They contain a compound called ergosterol that is turned into vitamin D in the body.

Currently, the Adequate Intake (AI)* for vitamin D for adults to age 50 is 5 mcg per day (200 IU). It increases to 10 mcg (400 IU) per day for those 51-70 years and 15 mcg (600 IU) per day for those older than 70 years. Health Canada encourages everyone over the age of 50 to take a daily supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D. The Tolerable Upper Limit (UL) currently recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine National Academies is 50 mcg (2000 IU) per day for adults. This includes both vitamin D from food sources and supplements.

A 1/2 cup serving (100g/3.5oz) of sliced fresh white mushrooms has 0.5 mcg (18 IU) of vitamin D, that is 9% of an adults Adequate Intake.

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