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1

Effects of Vitamin D Toxicity

Vitamin D is necessary for overall health. It plays a role in the growth and development of muscle cells, proper functioning of the immune system, maintaining skeletal health, and more.(1, 2)

The recommended dietary allowance is as follows:

  • 400 IU for infants
  • 600 IU for children and teens
  • 600 IU for adults of age 18-70 years
  • 800 IU adults over 70 years
  • 600 IU for females who are pregnant and breastfeeding

The deficiency of vitamin D increases the risk of disease, bone demineralization, and many negative health outcomes.(3) Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common and it is known that 40% of US adults are considered to have insufficient vitamin D levels and worldwide it affects 1 billion people.(1, 2, 3) Factors that increase the risk of vitamin d deficiency include:(4)

  • Skin color
  • Sun exposure
  • Bodyweight
  • Place a person lives
  • Medical conditions
  • Body’s ability to absorb vitamin D

As vitamin D deficiency is very common, people supplement it often. Vitamin D supplements are considered safe as a large dose in the diet is needed to keep up with the normal levels.(5) Consuming more than the required dose leads to vitamin D toxicity.

Vitamin D toxicity is common in people with medical conditions such as granulomatous disorders, congenital disorders, some lymphomas, and dysregulated vitamin D metabolism. It can occur in the case of accidental overdose, misuse of high vitamin D dose, and prescription errors. It is also known as hypervitaminosis D and vitamin D intoxication.

Effects of Vitamin D Toxicity

1.  Elevated Blood Calcium Levels

Vitamin D helps in absorbing calcium from the food. High vitamin D levels may elevate the calcium levels in the blood causing potentially dangerous symptoms.

Symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are related to symptoms of hypercalcemia (high calcium level in the blood), which include the following:

Hypercalcemia symptoms occur when a person has a prolonged intake of vitamin D for a long period of time.

A case report analyzed that females who took an average of 130,000 IU vitamin D for 20 months were hospitalized for symptoms related to hypercalcemia.(6) The symptoms included nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and kidney injury.

Hypercalcemia can be life-threatening and needs immediate medical attention.

2. Gastrointestinal Symptoms

As excess of vitamin D leads to hypercalcemia that includes gastrointestinal symptoms as well which include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Poor appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Nausea

It was found that a female who experienced nausea and weight loss was consuming 78 times more vitamin D than the amount mentioned on the label.(7) The symptoms occurred due to extremely high doses of vitamin D3 that lead to an increase in calcium levels.

In another case study, it was found that a boy complained of stomach pain and constipation after taking vitamin D supplements improperly while his brother experienced elevated blood levels without any other symptom.(8)

One more case study found that an 18 months old child who was given 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 for 3 months experienced vomiting diarrhea, stomach pain, and other symptoms.(9)

3. Altered Mental Status

People with vitamin D toxicity may experience altered mental status due to hypercalcemia. This may lead to symptoms such as confusion, depression, psychosis, and coma in extreme cases.

A case report of 2021 found a man after having misunderstood the medication instructions took 200,000 IU of vitamin D, showed altered mental status and other hypercalcemia symptoms. He was agitated and confused in his first 10 days, but the condition improved as the calcium level dropped.(10)

4. Kidney Complications

Vitamin D toxicity can lead to kidney injury and kidney failure. It happens because excess vitamin D raises the calcium level in the blood, increases the water loss through urination, and leads to calcification in the kidney. It can also cause the blood vessels in the kidney to constrict which can further lead to decreased kidney function.(11)

There are studies that show people developed moderate to severe kidney injury because of vitamin D toxicity.(12) This is why maintaining optimum vitamin D levels is important. 

Vitamin D has numerous roles to play and it also reduces the risk of certain diseases and improve mood and depression symptoms. It also helps in weight management. But excess of it also has numerous downsides. Therefore the supplement should be consumed with caution.

Also Read:

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:January 25, 2022

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