What are the effects of excess vitamin d?

If you’re like most people, you’ve been told that getting enough vitamins is essential for good health. But what happens if you consume too much of a vitamin? Specifically, what are the effects of excess Vitamin D (1)? Here’s everything you need to know about this important nutrient and how it can impact your body when consumed in excess.

Understanding Vitamin D

First things first: let’s talk about what Vitamin D actually is. This fat-soluble vitamin plays an important role in many bodily processes, including bone health, immune function (2), and cell growth regulation (which means it may even have some anti-cancer effects). Typically we get most of our daily dose directly from sunlight exposure along with certain foods or supplements.

But remember; there are limits to how much we need. The recommended daily intake typically ranges from 400-800 IU per day depending on your age and other factors – but exceeding these amounts can lead to problems.

Where do we find it?

Sources from which one could get their daily dose include:

  • Sunlight
  • Fatty fish such as salmon
  • Cheese
  • Beef liver
  • Egg yolks

Why Too Much Is Dangerous

Excess levels of any nutrient can be dangerous; however, excess levels specifically related to vitamin d likewise prove harmful due to its association with causing hypervitaminosis.

Hypervitaminosis D Details

Hypervitaminosis occurs due largely to overdoses via dietary supplements or alternative medicinal approaches (Note:
Always consult a medical professional before taking new medication or supplement regimens.)

When nutritionists speak on this broader issue regarding excessive nutrients’ potential danger they often use the term toxicity instead. In terms specific for vitamin d over-supplementation though involves different side-effects listed below:

Common Symptoms:

Symptoms might begin with sudden nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. If levels persistently stay too high, they might result in:

  • Renal problems or even failure (3)
  • Abnormal tissue calcification
  • Dehydration caused through excess thirst symptoms

Long Term Impacts:

If left untreated (please don’t do that), vitamin d-overload can cause long term issues such as:

  1. Cardiovascular Damage
  2. Hypercalcemia-related organ damage
    • Kidneys problems most likely but also to be noted, heart attacks due to hardening arteries may become a possibility.

Most at Risk according to studies

Interestingly enough some groups appear more vulnerable than others when it comes to the negative effects tied up with hypervitaminosis D.

  1. Breastfed infants who drink formula heavily enriched-with Vitamin-D (4) are prone.
  2. People diagnosed with particular conditions like health disorders related to kidney disease require extra scrutiny for similar reasons.
  3. Older adults in general.

Taking Action To Prevent Hypervitaminosis D

Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to prevent excessive Vitamin D consumption,

Considerations worth contemplating while preventing severe effects include food choices along supplement activity reductions:

1) Decrease your total vitamin d supplements amount intake if consuming larger amounts from dietary-factors as previously listed

    -(Be aware of what type of fish/food source)

2) Moderate amounts received via sun exposure; balancing considerations including an individual's pre-existing physical condition/context along regional environmental factors

   (! Be careful wearing sunscreen though! Certain types block absorption rates by up-to half!) 

Remember the key here is balance.

Final Thoughts on Excess Levels of Vitamin D!

While it may seem difficult initially since we’re told “the right vitamins = good”, attention+knowledge toward moderation should prove valuable alongside consulting doctors before adding supplements to a daily routine. It’s important to understand that getting “too much of a good thing” is not always beneficial, and can even cause significant health problems. So the next time you’re looking into whether or not additional supplements/medications are necessary for your application don’t forget: moderation is key.

References

1) Saeed O, Shiba M, Moghadam MJ. Hypervitaminosis D. [Updated 2021 Nov 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557577/

2) Vitamin D and Health.Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.; 2015 Dec;21(47):10690-701.Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4701354/

3) Dhondup T, Qian Q Extended release calcifediol induced hypercalcemia leading
to acute kidney injury.Clin Nephrol Case Stud.This article is distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License.
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
A case report demonstrating how high dosages impact risk factor in regards to renal effects

5) ”Vitamin D toxicity.” Theodore J Hahn MD UpToDate website’
https://www.google.com/search?q=hypervitaminosis+D&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS926US926&oq=hyperva&aqs=chrome…69i57j35i39l2j46i199j69i61l3j69i60&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#acd=nvpx&id=tfhvYLaRJyM%3D&ved=0ahUKEwiXxJ2nyM_jAhWEyDgGHSCIAnwQzmcImAM&_=

5) “You and your hormones” website; concerning the impact of calcitriol levels on organ health
Author: Dr Ebrahim Mulla, Consultant in Endocrinology

Goose Is Cooked ,

Or Apparently From Lack Their-of

When one is not getting outside and instead working from home (Thank you 2021 Pandemic) it makes that bit more tricky to get Vit-D amount recommendations within healthy ranges. With no outside contact input attainable nor supplement usage in-check issues revolving around depression could surface! So keep moving, stay active because not only will physical strain feel nice but ultimately Vitamin D is waiting for you if so.

This does represent medical advice reader.

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