New nutritional analysis reveals Australia can get 82% of daily Vitamin D intake this winter with an
New nutritional analysis reveals an average serve of eggs contain 82 percent of Australians’ recomme…New nutritional analysis reveals an average serve of eggs contain 82 percent of Australians’ recommended dietary intake of vitamin D
• Vitamin D deficiency is common in Australia, with 23 percent of adults thought to be affected.
• 2018 nutritional analysis of Australian eggs confirms an average serve of eggs (2x60g eggs) provides 82% of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of vitamin D.1
• Eggs are one of the highest natural dietary sources of vitamin D.
02 MAY 2019 – A new nutritional analysis of a representative sample of eggs from across Australia reveals an average serve (2 x 60g eggs) provides 82 percent of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of vitamin D.
New advancements in the analytical techniques used to detect different forms of vitamin D in foods has found that eggs are one of the highest natural sources of vitamin D.1,4 This result demonstrates that eggs contain significantly more vitamin D than previously thought.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in Australia, with around 1 in 4 adults having a mild or moderate deficiency.
“With 23% of Australian adults living with some type of vitamin D deficiency, the results from this new nutritional analysis of eggs is welcome news,” said leading nutritionist and dietitian, Sharon Natoli from Food & Nutrition Australia, who led both the 2007 and 2018 reviews into Australian eggs.
“With the capabilities to now test different forms of vitamin D in food, it is tremendous to discover that an average serve of eggs provides nearly an entire day’s worth of vitamin D,” Ms Natoli said.
For most Australians, the main source of vitamin D is from exposure to sunlight.3 However, many Australians do not have adequate vitamin D levels, particularly during winter and spring.3 Chronic low vitamin D levels can lead to conditions that result in bone and joint pain, increase the risk of falls and bone fracture in older people and may result in rickets.3 Low vitamin D levels have also been associated with muscle weakness, impaired balance and loss of muscle mass, strength and physical function.
“In Australia, it’s actually very hard to get more than about 5 or 10 per cent of the recommended dietary intake of vitamin D from dietary sources. “
“Along with the recommendations to avoid too much sunlight exposure, these factors together contribute to the high incidence of vitamin D deficiency in this country. Knowing an average serving of eggs provides 82% of the RDI for vitamin D could be a massive game changer for those living with a vitamin D deficiency,” said Australian General Practitioner Dr Ginni Mansberg.
“Eggs are a nutrient rich food that can be included daily as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Eating eggs regularly as a way to boost intakes of vitamin D is an easy, cost-effective, convenient and versatile option for many Australians,” said Dr Mansberg.
