U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys cited in the paper show that Americans consume seriously inadequate dietary calcium and vitamin D far below the recommended levels established by the Food Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. The Code of Federal Regulations (Title 21) requires the enrichment of certain cereal-derived food products with vitamins and minerals such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and iron, but calcium and vitamin D are optional and consequently ignored by producers, the authors contend.

"For about 10 cents per person per year, we can use existing technology to correct all this," Newmark says. "We believe that the time has come for a full scientific review of cereal-grain enrichment with calcium and vitamin D as a low-cost, safe and useful route for the reduction of osteoporosis and colon cancer in the United States in both men and women."

'"/>

Contact: Joseph Blumberg
blumberg@ur.rutgers.edu
732-932-7084 x652
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
22-Jul-2004