Most people have major problems of milk as a source of vitamin D

Highlights from New York Times blog on Milk July 2012

By Bittman, author of book: Food Matters

• US Department of Agriculture, encouraged by the Dairy lobby, had recommended 2 lbs of milk per day ( four 8 ounce glasses)
• We do not consume 2 lbs of anything else per day
  Even the per-capita consumption of soda is only 1 lb per day
• Now they have reduced the recommendation to 3 cups = 1.5 lbs per day
• But, 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant
  90% of Asian-Americans
  75% of African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Jews
  Note: 100 IU of vitamin D in one 8 ounce glass of milk, so 3 glasses per day = a paltry 300 IU

Highlights from NIH

• Premature babies sometimes have lactose intolerance.
• Approximately 30 million American adults have some amount of lactose intolerance by age 20.

Highlights from Wikipedia

• Most mammals normally become lactose intolerant after weaning, but some human populations have developed
  lactase persistence, in which lactase production continues into adulthood.
• It is estimated that 75% of adults worldwide show some decrease in lactase activity during adulthood
• It has now been shown that lactase persistence is caused by several independently occurring mutations.
  Hmm! Having problems with lactose is the norm for all animals, tolerance is the mutation in some humans

Dairy product	Serving size	% Lactose
Milk, regular	250 ml	4.8%
Milk, reduced fat	250 ml	5.2%
Yogurt, plain, regular	200 g	4.5%
Yogurt, plain, low-fat	200 g	6.0%
Ice cream	50 g	6.0%
Butter	1 tsp (5.9ml)	0.5%
Cottage cheese	30 g	0.3%
Cheddar cheese	30 g	0.07%

Calcium bioavailability highlights from LiveStrong

• < 5 % spinach, rhubarb and Swiss chard is absorbed, due to oxalates
• 20% almonds, sesame seeds, sweet potatoes and pinto beans
• 30 % milk, cheese and yogurt {Note: probably varies with vitamin D fortification and fat content}
• 50% Brussels sprouts, kale, mustard greens, broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower

Speculation by Vitamin D Life

• Back when milk was fortified with vitamin D perhaps 85% of Americans could drink milk
• Now it appears only about 63% of American can drink milk.
• Wonder when alternate foods will be fortified with vitamin D - in the US and around the world?

See also Vitamin D Life

• All items in category Fortification with vitamin D 111 items
• Vitamin D can fortify a variety of food and drinks – even beer – March 2012
• Vitamin D history back to Egyptians and fortification - Aug 2011
• Suppliers surmounting vitamin D fortification challenges – March 2010
• A plea for vit D food fortification in India May 2010
• Food fortified by 440 IU increased vitamin D levels by 8 ng – meta-analysis April 2012
• Improved health due to vitamin D fortification in Finland
• Cheese fortified with vitamin D
• Milk – Vitamin D deficiency 2X more likely if lactose intolerant, milk allergy, or low fat milk – 2017