yes, you can overdose on vitamin d, and it sounds awful
a u.k. man was hospitalized after three months of vomiting, diarrhea, tinnitus, and other symptoms of 'hypervitaminosis d.'
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signs of a vitamin d overdose include kidney failure, psychosis and pancreatitis. getty
taking vitamin supplements can be good for you — but only up to a point, doctors warn. an article published in journal bmj case reports earlier this week described the rare — but very harmful — situation of overdosing on vitamin d. “globally, there is a growing trend of hypervitaminosis d, a clinical condition characterized by elevated serum vitamin d3 levels,” the authors wrote. generally, women, children and surgical patients are the most likely to experience this kind of overdose, they added.
the article describes a middle-aged man in the u.k. who was put on an “intensive” regimen of supplements by an unidentified “nutritional therapist,” whose methods certainly sound questionable. the man, who had previously had health problems including tuberculosis, an inner ear tumour, and bacterial meningitis, was apparently told to take 150,000 iu (international units) of vitamin d every day — upwards of 20 pills (the mayo clinic suggests adults should get between 600 and 2000 iu per day). he also took vitamin k2, vitamin c, vitamin b2, vitamin b6, and vitamin b9, among several other nutrient and probiotic supplements.
the recommended daily dose of vitamin d is 2000 ius
about a month after starting this regimen, the man started feeling sick — he was consistently vomiting, and also suffered from nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, tinnitus, leg cramps, increased thirst and dry mouth. he also lost 28 pounds. and though he stopped taking the vitamins, the symptoms didn’t go away.
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“given its slow turnover (half-life of approximately 2 months), during which vitamin d toxicity develops, symptoms can last for several weeks,” according to the study authors. since vitamin d is fat-soluble, gizmodo explains, it takes a long time to dissolve once it’s been absorbed into fatty tissue.
the man’s family doctor ordered blood tests, which not only showed that his kidneys were injured, but he also had abnormally high levels of calcium and magnesium. and his vitamin d levels were off the charts: seven times the optimal level — results that prompted his doctor to send him to hospital where he remained for eight days. the man was given an intravenous drip to regain fluids and flush out his system, as well as bisphosphonates, which lower excessive calcium levels in the blood.
two months after leaving the hospital, his calcium levels had gone back to normal — but the amount of vitamin d in his blood was still way too high.
vitamin d overdose can cause psychosis and kidney failure
some of the other symptoms of hypervitaminosis d can include drowsiness, confusion, constipation, inflammatory eye disease, joint stiffness and peptic ulcers. in some cases it can have very severe effects, including depression, psychosis, pancreatitis, hearing loss or kidney failure.
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in small amount, vitamin d is good for us: it helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are crucial to bone health. it can also reduce inflammation and help with infections and, in some cases can even reduce cancer cell growth, according to harvard’s school of public health. but that calcium absorption can become harmful in very high amounts, which is what accounts for many of the troubling symptoms of hypervitaminosis d.
healthy amounts of vitamin d can be found in fish (tuna, salmon, herring, swordfish, sardines, cod liver oil) as well as mushrooms, beef liver, and egg yolks. many kinds of orange juice, milk (both dairy and plant), and cereal are fortified with vitamin d. our bodies also make vitamin d from the uv lights in the sun. (although that doesn’t mean you should skip sunscreen!)
certain people are at risk of vitamin d deficiency and should consider taking vitamin d supplements in healthy amounts. (again, that means aiming for somewhere between 600 and 2000 iu each day.) these people include the elderly, anyone taking long-term steroids, anyone who’s pregnant or breastfeeding, post-menopausal women, and people with chronic kidney disease or parathyroid disease.
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while hypervitaminosis d isn’t common, the study authors stress that it can be very dangerous, and that no one should take supplements in very high amounts.
“this case report further highlights the potential toxicity of supplements that are largely considered safe until taken in unsafe amounts or in unsafe combinations,” they wrote.
maija kappler is a reporter and editor at healthing. you can reach her at mkappler@postmedia.com
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