Full Nutrient Description: Vitamin D, also known as the "sunshine vitamin" because it can be produced naturally by the human body when exposed to the sun, is a fat-soluble nutrient that absorbs calcium and work with it to improve overall health and build strong, healthy bones. It is important to make sure that the lungs, muscles, heart and brain work well and that the body is able to fight infections. In addition to maintaining health, vitamin D also allows nerves to carry messages between the brain and every other part of the body. Overall, vitamin D is very important for the human body. Requirements of this nutrient throughout the life cycle:*IU means international units, mcg means micrograms Age group Recommended daily dose Tolerable daily dose Newborns 0 to 6 months 400 IU (10 mcg) 1000 IU (25 mcg) Newborns 7 – 12 months 400 IU (10 mcg) 1500 IU (38 mcg) Children 1 – 3 years 600 IU (15 mcg) 2500 IU (63 mcg) Children 4 – 8 years 600 IU (15 mcg) 3000 IU (75 mcg)Children and adults9-70 years 600 IU (15 mcg) 4000 IU (100 mcg)Adults over 70 years 800 IU (20 mcg) 4000 IU (100 mcg)Pregnancy and breastfeeding 600 IU (15 mcg) 4000 IU (100 mcg)The effects of an imbalance of this nutrient, prevalence, causes and treatment:The prevalence of the following imbalances varies as it depends on a person's living conditions. For example, people who live at higher elevations and northern latitudes may experience greater sun exposure. Therefore, the frequency of the two imbalances below can be high or low depending on your living conditions. Too much vitamin D: A higher than tolerable daily intake can cause vitamin D toxicity, which occurs when the body is under stress. ah...... half of the document ......ut-Vitamin-D.aspx#.U1b0u_ldUucInformation on the latest news and research on vitamin D.. (nd). Vitamin D Council. Retrieved from https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/Mathur, R., & Stöppler, M.C. (n.d.). Hypercalcemia (high calcium levels): symptoms, causes, treatment - How is hypercalcemia diagnosed? - MedicineNet. MedicineNet. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/hypercalcemia/page4.htm#how_is_hypercalcemia_treatmentNair, R., & Maseeh, A. (n.d.). Vitamin D: the “sunshine” vitamin. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3356951/Vitamin D. (n.d.). — Quick facts. Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-QuickFacts/ Vitamin D and Calcium: Updated Dietary Reference Intakes. (n.d.). Canadian Health. Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/vitamin/vita-d-eng.php