Vitamin D is very important for health.... This vitamin has several key functions in maintaining the health and function of the body's cells.... Most people do not get enough vitamin D, so they need to take supplements.... But it is possible (in rare cases) that the formation of this vitamin in the body reaches toxic levels.

In this article, we discuss 6 side effects of increasing this important vitamin in the body.

Also read: When should we take vitamin D?.

Deficiency and poisoning caused by excessive consumption of vitamin D

Vitamin D is involved in calcium absorption, immune system function, and protection of bones, muscles, and heart health....Vitamin D occurs naturally in food and is also produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight.

However, other than fatty fish, few foods are rich in vitamin D. Plus, most people don't get enough sun exposure to make enough vitamin D.

Thus, vitamin D deficiency is very common....in fact, about 1 billion people worldwide do not get enough vitamin D.

Vitamin D supplements are common, and you can get vitamin D-2 and D-3 through supplements. Vitamin D-3 is produced in response to sunlight and is found in animal products, while vitamin D-2 is plant-based.

Findings show that vitamin D-3 increases blood levels more than vitamin D-2... Research shows that for every 100 IU more vitamin D-3 per day, blood vitamin D levels increase by up to 1 ng/ml (2.5 nmol/l).

However, taking high doses of vitamin D-3 in the long term causes excess vitamin D to form in the body.

Vitamin D poisoning occurs when its level in the blood is greater than 150 ng/ml (375 nmol/l).. Since the vitamin is stored in body fat and gradually enters the bloodstream, the effect of poisoning remains for several months after stopping the supplement.

You should know that vitamin D poisoning is not common and only occurs in people who take high doses of supplements long-term without monitoring their blood levels.

It is also possible that a person uses a supplement that contains more vitamin D than what is written on the label of the supplement and inadvertently consumes excess vitamin D.

In contrast, diet and sun exposure alone do not cause vitamin D toxicity.

In the following, we mention 6 examples of the main side effects of increasing the amount of vitamin D.

Also read: Why vitamin D is vital for our body?

Dangers of excessive consumption of vitamin D

1... increasing the amount of vitamin D in the blood

Supplying a sufficient amount of vitamin D in the blood helps to strengthen immunity and protect the body against osteoporosis and cancer.

However, there is no agreement on the optimal range of sufficient value.

Although 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L) of vitamin D in the blood is considered adequate, the Vitamin D Association recommends maintaining a level of 40 to 80 ng/ml (100 to 200 nmol/L), noting that blood levels of vitamin D above 100 ng/ml can be dangerous..

While many people They use vitamin D supplements, rarely It happens that a person has very high levels of this vitamin in his blood.

A new study looked at data on more than 20,000 people over ten years. The results showed that only 37 people had vitamin D levels greater than 100 ng/ml (250 nmol/l). Only one person, at 364 ng/ml (899 nmol/l), had serious poisoning.

In one study, the amount of vitamin D in a woman's blood reached 476 ng/ml (1,171 nmol/l) after taking a supplement that provided 186,900 IU of vitamin D-3 daily for two months.

This figure is 47 times more than the recommended amount which is 4000 international units per day.

After the woman experienced extreme fatigue, forgetfulness, nausea, vomiting, speech disorder and other symptoms, she was monitored and admitted to the hospital.

Although only very high doses of this supplement can quickly lead to poisoning, even proponents of these supplements recommend using only ten thousand international units of these supplements per day.

SummaryIf vitamin D levels in the blood reach more than 100 ng/ml (250 nmol/liter), it can be dangerous.... Increased levels of vitamin D in the blood due to taking strong supplements can lead to symptoms of poisoning.

2... increase blood calcium

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium from food... in fact, absorbing calcium is one of the most important functions of vitamin D.

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But if the consumption of vitamin D is excessive, blood calcium reaches a level that leads to unpleasant and dangerous symptoms.

Among the symptoms of hypercalcemia or increased calcium in the blood, the following can be mentioned:

• Digestive disorders such as vomiting, nausea and heartache
• Severe fatigue, dizziness and confusion
• Istqa
• Urine frequency

The normal blood calcium level is 8.5-10.2 mg/dl (2.1-2.5 mmol/l).

In one study, an elderly man with dementia who took 50,000 IU of vitamin D daily for 6 months was repeatedly hospitalized for symptoms related to elevated blood calcium.

In another study, two men who had taken an invalid vitamin D supplement had blood calcium levels of 13.2-15 mg/dl (3.3-3.7 mmol/l).... Furthermore, it took a year for their blood calcium levels to return to normal after stopping the supplement.

3... Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite

Many of the side effects of increased vitamin D are related to increased blood calcium.

Among them are nausea, vomiting and anorexia

However, not everyone with high blood calcium levels experiences these symptoms.

One study looked at 10 people who used supplements to treat vitamin D deficiency and then developed hypercalcemia.

Four people experienced nausea and vomiting, and three people lost their appetite.

The results of the reaction to vitamin D were similar in other studies.... A woman experienced nausea and weight loss after taking a supplement that contained 78 times the amount written on the vitamin D label.

It should be noted that these symptoms occur in response to a very high dose of vitamin D-3 that raises the blood calcium level to more than 12 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L).

SummaryEvidence shows that taking high doses of vitamin D in some people leads to nausea, vomiting and fatigue due to increased blood calcium levels.

4.... heartache, constipation or diarrhea

Heartache, constipation or diarrhea are common gastrointestinal complications associated with food allergies or irritable bowel syndrome.

However, these symptoms may be due to increased blood calcium levels due to vitamin D toxicity.

People who use high doses of this vitamin to treat vitamin D deficiency may experience these symptoms....This reaction, just like other symptoms, seems to vary from person to person (even if the level of vitamin D elevation in the blood is similar).

In one research example, a boy developed heartburn and constipation after taking substandard vitamin D supplements, while his brother's blood levels of vitamin D increased without any other symptoms.

In another study, an 18-month-old child who took 50,000 units of vitamin D-3 daily for three months developed diarrhea, heartburn, and other symptoms... These symptoms resolved after stopping the supplement.

SummaryA high dose of vitamin D, which leads to an increase in blood calcium, can cause symptoms such as heartache, constipation or diarrhea.

5.... bone decay

Since vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism, getting enough of it is critical to maintaining strong bones.

However, too much vitamin D can harm bone health

Although many symptoms of increased vitamin D are attributed to high levels of calcium in the blood, some researchers say that high doses of vitamin D lead to low levels of vitamin K-2 in the blood.

One of the most important functions of vitamin K-2 is to maintain bone calcium and prevent it from entering the blood. It is said that increasing the amount of vitamin D reduces the activity of vitamin K-2.

It is better not to use vitamin D supplement and use vitamin K-2 supplement to prevent excessive bone decay.... You can also use foods rich in vitamin K-2 such as meat and dairy products.

SummaryAlthough vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption, increasing its amount interferes with the activity of vitamin K-2 and leads to bone decay.

6.... Kidney failure

High consumption of vitamin D repeatedly leads to kidney damage.

In one research example, a man was hospitalized for kidney failure, elevated blood calcium, and other symptoms after receiving multiple vitamin D injections as prescribed by a top internist.

In fact, most research shows that people with vitamin D toxicity experience moderate to severe kidney damage.

In a study of 62 people who received high-dose vitamin D injections, all (those with healthy kidneys and those with pre-existing kidney disease) developed kidney failure.

Kidney failure is treated through oral hydration or serum and medicine.

SummaryIncreasing vitamin D can lead to kidney failure in people with healthy kidneys and those with kidney disease.

The last word

Vitamin D is very important for general health... Even if you eat a healthy diet, you should take a supplement to get optimal vitamin D.

However, consuming too much of a useful substance can also be harmful.

Avoid high doses of vitamin D. In general, 4,000 IU of vitamin D or less per day is considered safe as long as blood levels are under control.

In addition, be sure to purchase vitamin D supplements from reputable manufacturers to reduce the risk of accidental overdose due to substandard labeling.

If you are taking vitamin D supplements and experience any of the above symptoms, consult an internist at GCORP LLC as soon as possible.

Source: Healthline

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