There Is Such a Thing as Too Much Vitamin D
By Paul Rothbart
Most people are aware of the importance of Vitamin D. Many also know that it is not commonly found in foods. They also know that the body manufactures it using sunlight. As such, Vitamin D supplements are very commonly taken daily. While Vitamin D deficiency is not unusual and harmful to your health, too much of the nutrient can also cause problems. It's a less common problem but nevertheless, care should be taken not to overdo it. Here are some potential side effects of too much Vitamin D.
High Levels of Calcium in the Blood
Vitamin D is good for bone health because it helps the body absorb calcium into the blood which takes it to the bones. The calcium enables bone growth. Too much Vitamin D can raise blood calcium levels to an extent that can cause several problems. Among these are frequent thirst, confusion, fatigue, and dizziness. Studies have found that high calcium levels in the blood caused by too much Vitamin D can take a year to normalize.
Digestive Issues
Too much calcium in the blood can also cause digestive issues. Some of the possible side effects are loss of appetite, vomiting, and nausea. Stomach pain can also occur. These problems don't happen unless extreme amounts of Vitamin D3 are consumed. A study that was conducted with 10 subjects who had elevated blood-calcium levels due to too much Vitamin D found that four of them had nausea and vomiting while three experienced loss of appetite.
Bone Loss
Ironically, though Vitamin D plays a significant role in bone health, too much of it can have the opposite effect. While excess Vitamin D puts too much calcium in the blood, it lowers the levels of Vitamin K2, which keeps calcium in the bones and out of the blood. Taking a Vitamin K2 supplement to offset a Vitamin D supplement is a good idea.
Kidney Failure
Damage to the kidneys is a frequent side effect of too much Vitamin D. A case study found that a man who had been given Vitamin D injections by his doctor for a period of time showed elevated blood calcium levels and was hospitalized for kidney failure. In another study of 62 people who had been receiving injections of a high dose of Vitamin D, every single one of them experienced kidney failure. This occurred regardless of how healthy their kidneys were beforehand. Research has proven that Vitamin D toxicity tends to damage kidneys at least moderately.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for good health. It can be difficult to get in sufficient amounts so many people take a supplement. While Vitamin D deficiency is much more common, toxicity is a potential problem. Take care not to ingest too much Vitamin D.
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