The Dangers of Taking Too Much Vitamin D: Symptoms and Recommended Intake

Posted by Enas Al-Banna

Sunday, May 21, 2023 04:00 AM

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is mainly found in animal food products and is also synthesized in the human body by exposure to sunlight. It helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis, and is also essential for maintaining general immunity.

Back pain, fatigue, bone pain, or muscle weakness is often a sign of a vitamin D deficiency, which is when you should spend as much time in the sun as possible or eat foods rich in vitamin D. Some people can, with guidance from a nutritionist. Or doctor, turn to nutritional supplements, however, did you know that taking too much vitamin D can become toxic and lead to side effects?

What happens when you take too much vitamin D

According to the site Only My HealthTaking large amounts of synthetic vitamin D can lead to vitamin D toxicity, however, notes that this is not possible with natural sources of vitamin D, such as sun exposure or foods, even if taken in excess..

According to the Mayo Clinic, it can High doses of vitamin D supplements To poisoning causes many problems in the body. This is mostly because excess consumption of vitamin D leads to a build-up of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which causes an imbalance in the regulation of bone metabolism. Dr. Tayal said that severe cases of vitamin D poisoning can cause problems such as kidney failure and irregular heartbeat.

Symptoms of vitamin D poisoning

Symptoms of vitamin D poisoning are mainly due to high blood calcium, and these include::

lack of appetite

Vomiting and nausea

holding

drying

increased thirst

frequent urination

Confusion, lethargy and fatigue

Muscle weakness and difficulty walking

Bone pain

kidney stones

How much vitamin D should you take?

The recommended daily intake of vitamin D for adults and children over 4 years of age is 800 IU (IU) Per day.

According to the British National Health Service (NHS) Children from 1 year of age and adults need 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day, this includes pregnant and breastfeeding women and people at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

For people with vitamin deficiencies, here are foods rich in the sunshine vitamin

If you are not getting enough vitamin D from sun exposure, you can always eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as:

• Cod liver oil

• Salmon and tuna

• Dairy and plant milk

• Sardines

• beef liver

• yolk

• cheese

• mushrooms

• tofu

• Curd and yogurt

Vitamin D is a very essential nutrient for overall health and development, as it not only helps build strong bones, but also protects against bone disease in both adults and children.

However, you must ensure that you do not have an excess of it, especially if you are taking supplements or any other synthetic source.