You must have heard vitamin D deficiencywhich means a lack of the necessary vitamin D in the body; but have you ever come across the term vitamin d toxicity? For those who consume vitamin D supplements regularly, basic knowledge about vitamin D toxicity it is extremely important to avoid the associated health risks.
How serious is vitamin D toxicity?
A study published in October 2024 on the clinical and biochemical profiles of hospitalized patients with hypercalcemia from a tertiary care center in North India found that vitamin D toxicity is one of the reasons for the increased hypercalcemia cases. “The profile of hypercalcemia appears to be changing in India, particularly in hospitals, due to increased reports of vitamin D toxicity and early detection of PHPT, requiring clinicians to be aware of such changes for effective diagnosis and treatment,” the report said. said.
Another study, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, describes a patient who was treated at the endocrinology clinic at Michigan State University. “He was started on 5,000 IU of daily vitamin D supplements and at follow-up his level was corrected to 88 ng/ml. His supplements were withheld. His 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was reported to be greater than 200 ng/ml on routine repeat laboratory testing, consistent with a biochemical diagnosis of vitamin D toxicity,” the report said.
What is vitamin D toxicity?
Vitamin D toxicity, also known as hypervitaminosis Doccurs when vitamin D levels in the body are excessively high, causing calcium to build up in the blood (hypercalcemia). This condition is not caused by prolonged exposure to the sun or a diet rich in vitamin D; instead, it is usually the result of taking high-dose vitamin D supplements over time. While vitamin D is fat-soluble and stored in the body, excessive amounts can disrupt normal physiological processes, creating serious health hazards.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin D varies by age, gender, and health status. While the RDA for most adults would be between 600 and 800 IU/day, the upper limit of intake is set at 4,000 IU/day. However, this is the amount that people often use, often based on mistaken advice or assumptions about the benefits of vitamin D. Supplementation in excess of 10,000 IU per day for weeks or months has been seen to lead to toxicity.
It is also important to note that the risk increases when vitamin D supplementation is combined with high-calcium diets or calcium supplements. It can push calcium levels in the blood to dangerous levels, causing health complications.
Common symptoms of vitamin D toxicity
Vitamin D toxicity has a number of manifestations, which are mainly caused by hypercalcemia. Initial signs include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, polydipsia, polyuria, and weakness. More serious manifestations occur in the advanced stages of toxicity:
- High levels of calcium can lead to the development of kidney stones, impair kidney function, or cause calcification of kidney tissue.
- Elevated calcium levels can lead to calcification of the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Ironically, excessive vitamin D can weaken bones by interfering with calcium regulation, thereby increasing the risk of fractures.
- Hypercalcemia can cause confusion, irritability, and, in extreme cases, seizures due to effects on the nervous system.
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