Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation for Lacto-Vegetarians

Essential Nutrients

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and other authoritative guidelines, including Public Health England and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, recommend that all lacto-vegetarians take 10 mcg/day (400 IU/day) of vitamin D to ensure adequate levels, as dietary sources alone are typically insufficient 1
The upper safe limit for vitamin D is 100 mcg/day (4,000 IU/day) for adults, as recommended by the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2, 1

The population reference intake for adult women is 7.5-12.7 mg/day of zinc, according to the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 3
Dairy consumption provides adequate calcium for lacto-vegetarians, meeting the 800-1,100 mg/day requirements, as stated in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 3

Individual assessment of iron status may be warranted, particularly for menstruating women, and iron supplementation may be necessary if laboratory values indicate deficiency, as noted in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2
Iodine supplementation may be necessary if intake is uncertain, and consistent use of iodized salt is recommended, as suggested in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2