OTTAWA — New guidelines are being proposed for vitamin D intake in Canada, according to new research by Osteoporosis Canada.

Current recommendations for "adequate intake" and "tolerable upper level" of vitamin D are more than a decade old and were not based on properly conducted dose-finding studies, according to the report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Vitamin D is essential in preventing osteoporosis and may reduce other health risks such as diabetes and immune system disorders.

While exposure to sunlight provides some of the supplement, Canadians are at risk of seasonal vitamin D deficiency because winter sunlight in northern latitudes does not contain enough ultraviolet B for vitamin D production.

The new guidelines recommend daily supplements of 400 to 1,000 International Units for healthy adults under age 50. For adults over 50, supplements of between 800 and 2,000 IU are recommended.

Health Canada currently recommends people get 400 IU per day.