What can overdose of vitamin D lead to?

July 7, 2022  18:35

Vitamin D supplementation is highly recommended during the colder months, especially from October to March. However, year-round supplements are not frowned upon unless they lead to toxicity.

Family doctor Tatyana Zakharova went on to describe a case in which a man taking vitamin D supplements began to suffer from nausea. A middle-aged man presented with chest pains, leg cramps, ringing in the ears, dry mouth, increased thirst and weight loss.

“After first seeking help from his doctor, the man was soon referred to the hospital, where medics discovered that he was taking 20 over-the-counter supplements daily. Blood tests showed that he had seven times more vitamin D than the body needs, which is medically known as hypervitaminosis D. He also had very high levels of calcium and slightly elevated levels of magnesium,” the family doctor said.

People should only take 10 mcg of vitamin D per day — and no more than 100 mcg (4,000 IU). Children under 10 years old need even less - they should receive no more than 50 micrograms of vitamin D (2000 IU) per day. Babies under 12 months of age should not take more than 25 mcg (1,000 IU) per day, she said.

“Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body,” Zakharova noted.

Hypercalcemia can weaken bones and damage the kidneys and heart. People with medical conditions, such as the man in this case, may not be able to safely take as much vitamin D as other people.

During the summer months, people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need without supplementation.

People who typically wear clothing that covers most of their skin will also benefit from a safe intake of vitamin D.

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