Serious side effects of taking too much vitamin D

Vitamin D plays an essential role in your body, such as helping it absorb calcium, promoting bone health and regulating immune function, inflammation and mood. But as with many things in nutrition, no longer is not always better.

Taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements can cause toxic levels of vitamin D to accumulate in your body, leading to serious side effects.

As high -dose vitamin D supplements become more popular, cases of The toxicity of vitamin D has become more common And often arise from people taking extremely high doses of additional vitamin D for long periods.

Here is what is happening when you take too much vitamin D, as well as ways to stay safe when you complete with this nutrient.

The medical term for the toxicity of vitamin D is hypervitaminosis D. This condition occurs when an excessive vitamin D accumulates in the body, causing dangerously high calcium levels (hypercalcemia).

The toxicity of vitamin D is rare And is almost always caused by taking excessively high doses of supplements, not by food or sun exposure. The body naturally regulates the amount of vitamin D it makes of the sun, and most food sources do not contain enough vitamin D to become a problem, even if they are consumed in large portions.

“There are rare genetic causes of vitamin D toxicity, but I have never seen a case of toxicity of vitamin D linked to food naturally rich in vitamin D. The toxicity of vitamin D is almost always to consume too many supplements of vitamin D,” said Neil Patel, MD, specialist in internal medicine with Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange, California, said Health.

The safe upper limit

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have established a tolerable higher level of admission (the highest daily dose, unwilling to cause undesirable effects) to vitamin D 4,000 IUs (100 micrograms) per day.

Research shows that The toxicity of vitamin D can occur with a prolonged daily contribution greater than 10,000 IUs, Although the exact threshold can vary between individuals.

The toxicity of vitamin D generally develops gradually and symptoms can take months to develop. “Symptoms of the toxicity of vitamin D are generally driven by hypercalcemia, or too much calcium in the blood,” said Barlow. “The first signs of too much vitamin D often resemble stomach problems, including nausea, vomiting and constipation.”

Over time, symptoms such as fatigue, dehydration, confusion, muscle weakness and bone pain can develop. The toxicity of vitamin D can also cause kidney stones or even kidney damage.

Some of the most common signs of vitamin D toxicity:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Excessive thirst and frequent urination
• Weakness or fatigue
• Bone pain
• Confusion or disorientation

Serious complications may include:

• Kidney damage or kidney stones
• Irregular cardiac rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Bone pain and calcium deposits in soft tissue
• Severe dehydration
• In rare cases, death

If you take high dose vitamin D supplements and feel these symptoms, it is essential to ask for a doctor.

You can get vitamin D from food, supplements or sunlight. Here’s how everyone affects your vitamin D levels:

• Sun: Your body makes sun vitamin D by absorbing UV rays, creating pre-vitamin D, then converting it into its active form. Your body controls the amount of vitamin D it produces from sunlight, so sun exposure will not cause toxicity.
• Food: The quantities found naturally in food or added to foods are relatively low and not sufficient to reach harmful levels. Even foods rich in vitamin D like salmon or fortified cereals do not contain enough to cause toxicity when consumed in normal quantities.
• Supplements: The daily use of very high doses of vitamin D can push blood levels beyond what the body can manage.

“Before being treated by the liver, excess vitamin D is stored in fat and liver reserves,” said Ryan Sultan, MD, psychiatrist at Integrative Psychiatry, Health. “The process of decomposing vitamin D into inactive components is slow, which is why taking too much vitamin D too quickly, like> 10,000 to 40,000 IU per day for months, can be toxic.”

Even then, the sultan noted that it was extremely difficult to reach the toxic levels of vitamin D, even by supplementation. But it can happen if you take much more than your body has required it for a long time.

The good news is that The toxicity of vitamin D is rare and is generally caused by poor management of supplementation, Like taking more than the amount recommended for a long time.

Fortunately, the toxicity of vitamin D is avoidable and begins with intelligent supplement habits.

Here’s how to stay safe:

• Know your vitamin D level: The only way to know if your vitamin D levels are high or low is to have your blood levels checked. “If you take a high dose of vitamin D, regular blood tests are a simple way to monitor your levels,” said Barlow. The recommendations for optimal vitamin D blood rates vary, but are generally between 40 and 70 ng / ml.
• Stand up to the safe upper limit: Although people with low levels of vitamin D sometimes need higher doses, most healthy adults should keep additional vitamin D to 4,000 IU per day, except led by a health care provider.
• Check your labels: Recommended Patel Be careful when taking several supplements and noting the amount of vitamin D in each. “It is important that patients know what dose of vitamin D, they get their multivitamous or supplement supplements or supplement,” he said.
• Work with a professional: If you need additional vitamin D, it is best to work with a qualified health care provider and to follow their recommendations for a safe and appropriate dosage.

Vitamin D is vital for immunity, brain health, strong bones and general well-being, but taking too many supplements can be harmful.

To stay safe, it is best to follow the advice of your health care provider on the dosage and check your levels before starting or adjusting a vitamin D supplement.