The Important Vitamin You're Probably Lacking

In the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently raised its recommended daily level of vitamin D to 600 international units (IUs) for anyone up to age 71 years old, including children, and as much as 800 IUs for those 71 and older. Extreme levels of vitamin D can damage the kidneys and heart and may be associated with other chronic diseases and even death. The IOM established maximum safe levels of vitamin D at 2,500 IUs per day for children ages 1 through 3; 3,000 IUs daily for children 4 through 8 years old; and 4,000 IUs daily for all others.