Taking very high doses of vitamin D supplements can cause vitamin D toxicity.
Vitamin D toxicity causes high levels of calcium in the blood.
People with vitamin D toxicity may lose their appetite, feel nauseated, vomit, and feel weak and nervous.
Doctors diagnose the toxicity by measuring levels of calcium and vitamin D in the blood.
Treatment involves stopping vitamin D supplements and giving the person fluids and sometimes medications.
(See also Overview of Vitamins.)
Taking very high daily doses of vitamin D—for example, 60 to 100 or more times the recommended dietary allowance (RDA)—over several months can cause toxicity and a high calcium level in the blood (hypercalcemia). Levels of calcium become high because when levels of vitamin D are high, the following occur:
More bone is broken down than is reformed. (Normally, bones are continuously broken down and reformed—in a process called remodeling—to adjust to the changing demands placed on them.) As a result, calcium is released from the bone into the bloodstream.
More calcium is absorbed from food in the intestine.
Vitamin D may be used to treat psoriasis, hypoparathyroidism, and renal osteodystrophy. It has not been proved to increase life expectancy or to prevent leukemia and breast, prostate, colon, or other cancers. Vitamin D supplementation does not effectively treat or prevent depression or heart disease and has little effect on preventing acute respiratory infections (such as pneumonia or the common cold). Taking the combined recommended dietary allowance of both vitamin D and calcium may slightly reduce the risk of falls in people who are vitamin D deficient, especially those who are institutionalized. However, large doses of vitamin D may increase fracture risk.
Dalili za Vitamini D Kupita Kiasi
Early symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, followed by weakness, nervousness, and high blood pressure.
Because the calcium level is high, calcium may be deposited throughout the body, particularly in the kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, and heart. The kidneys may be permanently damaged and malfunction, resulting in kidney failure.
Utambuzi wa Vitamini D Kupita Kiasi
Blood tests
Vitamin D excess is usually diagnosed when blood tests detect a high calcium level in a person who takes high doses of vitamin D. Doctors also measure the level of vitamin D in the blood.
Matibabu ya Vitamini D Kupita Kiasi
Stopping vitamin D supplements
Fluids given intravenously
Medications
Treatment of vitamin D toxicity involves stopping vitamin D supplements to offset the effects of a high calcium level in the blood. Fluids are given intravenously as needed.
Medications, such as corticosteroids or bisphosphonates, are given to suppress the release of calcium from the bones.
