Calcium and vitamin D are essential nutrients for the human body. Establishing the levels of these nutrients that are needed by the North American population is based on the understanding of the health outcomes that calcium and vitamin D affect. It is also important to establish how much of each nutrient may be "too much." Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D provides reference intake values for these two nutrients. The report updates the DRI values defined in Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride, the 1997 study from the Institute of Medicine. This 2011 book provides background information on the biological functions of each nutrient, reviews health outcomes that are associated with the intake of calcium and vitamin D, and specifies Estimated Average Requirements and Recommended Dietary Allowances for both. It also identifies Tolerable Upper Intake Levels, which are levels above wish the risk for harm may increase. The book includes an overview of current dietary intake in the U.S. and Canada, and discusses implications of the study. A final chapter provides research recommendations. The DRIs established in this book incorporate current scientific evidence about the roles of vitamin D and calcium in human health and will serve as a valuable guide for a range of stakeholders including dietitians and other health professionals, those who set national nutrition policy, researchers, the food industry, and private and public health organizations and partnerships. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Overview of Calcium3 Overview of Vitamin D4 Review of Potential Indicators of Adequacy and Selection of Indicators: Calcium and Vitamin D5 Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy: Calcium and Vitamin D6 Tolerable Upper Intake Levels: Calcium and Vitamin D7 Dietary Intake Assessment8 Implications and Special Concerns9 Information Gaps and Research NeedsAppendix A: Acronyms, Abbreviations, and GlossaryAppendix B: Issues and Interests Identified by Study SponsorsAppendix C: Methods and Results from the AHRQ-Ottawa Evidence-Based Report on Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone HealthAppendix D: Methods and Results from the AHRQ-Tufts Evidence-Based Report on Vitamin D and CalciumAppendix E: Literature Search StrategyAppendix F: Evidence MapsAppendix G: Cases Studies of Vitamin D ToxicityAppendix H: Estimated Intakes of Calcium and Vitamin D from National SurveysAppendix I: Proportion of the Population Above and Below 40 nmol/L Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Cumulative Distribution of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations: United States and CanadaAppendix J: Workshop Agenda and Open Session AgendasAppendix K: Biographical Sketches of Committee MembersIndexSummary Tables: Dietary Reference Intakes