The 2011 IOM report on vitamin D and calcium requirements for north america: clinical implications for providers treating patients with low bone mineral density.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for skeletal mineralization and maintenance of bone mass. Most healthy individuals can meet their vitamin D requirements through dietary means, modest supplementation and solar exposure for short periods of time. The serum level of 25OHD that determines adequacy is 20 ng/ml, which corresponds with consumption of 6-800 IU of vitamin D per day, according to the Institute of Medicine review. There is still debate about whether higher doses of vitamin D are required for treating patients with osteoporosis.