What is vitamin D toxicity? Should I be worried about taking supplements?
by Admin
Posted on 18-02-2025 12:45 PM
Answer from katherine zeratsky, r. D.
, l. D.
Vitamin d toxicity, also called hypervitaminosis d, is a rare but potentially serious condition that occurs when you have excessive amounts of vitamin d in your body. Vitamin d toxicity is usually caused by large doses of vitamin d supplements — not by diet or sun exposure. That's because your body regulates the amount of vitamin d produced by sun exposure, and even fortified foods don't contain large amounts of vitamin d. The main consequence of vitamin d toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination.
Lastly, it is worth noting that excessive vitamin d levels can cause harm: serum vitamin d (25-hydroxyvitamin d) levels over 150 ng/ml (375 nmol/l) are a sign of vitamin d toxicity. Vitamin d toxicity, otherwise known as hypervitaminosis d, can result in dehydration, fatigue, muscle weakness, vomiting, and calcification of tissues ( 68 , 69 ). Vitamin d supplements are the most common cause of vitamin d toxicity ( 70 ). For this reason, it is often recommended that individuals taking vitamin d supplements work with their doctor to ensure vitamin d levels in the healthy range. Excessive sun exposure is not a concern for vitamin d toxicity due to a feedback loop that prevents the overproduction of vitamin d in the skin ( 71 ). https://f004.backblazeb2.com/file/pkrkkl/herbalcolonicscomplex/Cleanse-and-detox/Zinc-Deficiency-Affects-DNA-Damage-Oxidative-Stress-Antioxidant-Defenses-and-DNA-Repair-in-Rats-1-3.html
Getting too much vitamin d (known as vitamin d toxicity) can be harmful. Signs of toxicity include nausea and vomiting , poor appetite, constipation , weakness, and weight loss. Very high levels of vitamin d can damage the kidneys. It also raises the level of calcium in your blood. High levels of blood calcium (hypercalcemia) can cause confusion, kidney failure , and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Most cases of vitamin d toxicity happen when someone overuses vitamin d supplements. You cannot get too much vitamin d from sun exposure because the skin limits the amount of vitamin d it makes.
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Vitamin d toxicity, clinically called hypervitaminosis, happens when people take in too much vitamin d, according to the mayo clinic. Causes
it’s rare to get too much vitamin d from food and sunlight, but the overuse of vitamin d supplements — especially taking them without a doctor’s recommendation — could lead to toxicity. Vitamin d toxicity may be becoming more common, as supplements are widely available over the counter, and individuals may be under the impression that taking them might heal certain health ailments. According to harvard health , there was a nearly 3 percent increase in the number of people taking unsafe levels — classified as those above 4,000 iu a day — between 1999 and 2014.
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taking vitamins d and k2 together may benefit people with certain health conditions, especially heart and bone health. One study suggests that combining vitamins k and d improves the overall strength of bones (bone mineral density). Some researchers have hypothesized that taking both supplements together may be more effective than taking either alone for bone and heart health. More research is needed to understand how well the two supplements work together to improve and maintain bone and heart health.
Research on vitamin d use for specific conditions shows: cancer. Findings on the benefits of vitamin d for cancer prevention are mixed. More studies are needed to determine whether vitamin d supplementation may reduce the risk of certain cancers. Cognitive health. Research shows that low levels of vitamin d in the blood are associated with cognitive decline. However, more studies are needed to determine the benefits of vitamin d supplementation for cognitive health. Inherited bone disorders. Vitamin d supplements can be used to help treat inherited disorders resulting from an inability to absorb or process vitamin d, such as familial hypophosphatemia.
Wang w, et al. Vitamin d and neurodegenerative diseases. Heliyon. 2023; doi:10. 1016/j. Heliyon. 2023. E12877. Sirbe c, et al. An update on the effects of vitamin d on the immune system and autoimmune diseases. International journal of molecular sciences. 2022; doi:10. 3390/ijms23179784. Vitamin d. Natural medicines. Https://naturalmedicines. Therapeuticresearch. Com. Accessed march 6, 2023. Jankovic j, et al. , eds. Multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. In: bradley and daroff's neurology in clinical practice. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2022. Https://www. Clinicalkey. Com. Accessed march 6, 2023. Vitamin d: fact sheet for health professionals. Office of dietary supplements.