How does Canada’s new vitamin D fortification policy affect the high prevalence of inadequate intake of the vitamin?

Health Canada’s new vitamin D fortification policy intends to promote bone health and reduce inadequacies by essentially doubling the mandatory fortification in margarine and cow’s milk. Using 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey data, we modelled the population-level impact of this policy. Among supplement non-consumers, the policy resulted in significant reductions of inadequacies across all population groups; however, 76% of Canadians were still below the estimated average requirement (10 µg/day or 400 IU/day). Among supplement consumers, no significant changes were found. Therefore, the fortification policy may benefit Canadians not taking supplements, although it alone cannot eliminate population-level vitamin D inadequacies and supplementation should be promoted. Take-home message The 2023 vitamin D fortification policy may significantly reduce inadequacies in non-supplement consumers; however, the policy is far from eliminating population-level vitamin D inadequacies and supplementation should still be encouraged.