A case report demonstrates the dangers of too much vitamin D.
After experiencing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, leg cramps and tinnitus as well as weight loss, a middle-aged man was referred by a general physician to the hospital. The patient was taking vitamin supplements including vitamin D 150,000IU. His daily requirements are 10 mcg and 400 IU.
This is a reasonable dosage. The National Institutes of Health recommend that you take no more than 15 micrograms of mcgTrustedSource (micrograms) daily in supplements. This is 600 IU.
“A common misconception regarding vitamin D is that more is better,” JoAnn Elisabeth, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief, division of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said to Medical News Today.
This is incorrect. It’s very important to avoid vitamin deficiency. Mega-dosing can cause harm, she stated.
The study is extreme, but Dr. Clifford J. Rosen (faculty scientist, director of Center for Clinical & Translational Research at Maine Medical Center Research Institute), told MNT that excessive vitamin intake can lead to serious health problems.
The symptoms persisted even after the man stopped taking the supplements. This suggests that he may have suffered permanent damage.
Extreme supplementation
Before he was referred by his doctor, the man had been on more than 20 prescriptions over-the-counter for three months.
His daily diet included vitamin K2 100mg (daily requirements 100-300mg); vitamin C, vitamin F9 (folate), 1000mg (daily need 400 mg); vitamin A, vitamin B2 (riboflavin); vitamin B6 (vitamin B6), vitamin B2 (riboflavin); vitamin B2 (riboflavin); vitamin B3 (vitamin B6), vitamin B2 (riboflavin); vitamin B2 (riboflavin); vitamin B6 (dacetate), vitamin D), vitamin A nutritional therapist had prescribed the regimen to him.
A blood test showed that the patient had levels of serum vitaminD of more than 400nmol/L. This means that he had 8 times what the recommended daily intake of vitamin D.
He also had a history of medical problems, including “bovine spine tuberculosisTrustedSource, left vestibular SchwannomaTrustedSource with hearing loss,” hydrocephalusTrustedSource treated with a Ventricular Peritoneal ShuntTrustedSource, bacterial meningitisTrustedSource, and chronic rhinosinusitis.”
Kristin Kirkpatrick (Nutritionist) was not part of the report. She did not consult with the subject. Kristin recommends a more balanced approach to vitamin D supplementation.
MNT was told by MNT that she recommended to all her patients to first determine their vitamin D levels before starting supplementation.
Are vitamin D supplements necessary?
Although vitamin D is not a well-known topic, it is widely accepted that it is essential for optimal health.
Vitamin D is produced by the sun. The amount of vitamin D produced by a person’s skin depends on their local climate and the degree to which they have been exposed to sunlight. The same goes for skin pigmentation.
Vitamin D is essential for bone health, calcium absorption, and support of the parathyroid glands.
Dr. Manson stated, “We just published another meta-analysis showing that vitamin D supplementation in moderate daily doses decreases advanced cancer and death.”
“Moderate intake of vitamin D (2000 IU daily) has been shown to reduce the risk of developing autoimmune diseases in VITAL [a Dr. Manson-led study].
Dr. Manson explained that high-dose bolus vitamin D dosing does not provide these benefits, and has also been shown to increase the risk of falls and fractures.
Is Vitamin D “insufficiency”?
Some have suggested that COVID-19 could be linked to vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Manson said, “We’ll soon see the results of VIVID. This is vitamin D testing for preventing severe COVID illness, and long COVID. But the jury is still out.”
Kirkpatrick shared with her patients that she discussed the relationship of low levels D with mood/mental health.
She said that studies have shown vitamin D deficiencies can be linked to depression.
She also believes that vitamin D can be helpful in reducing inflammation
“Inflammation is at the root of any chronic disease. Studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D can lead to worsening inflammation.Trusted Source
Kirkpatrick stated that most of his patients need a supplement to boost their D levels. The body is more able to absorb the vitamin D from the sun than it is from food.
Dr. Rosen, who calls vitamin D “a religion”, is not convinced that vitamin D’s popular concern is justified.
MNT was told that 97.5% of people have sufficient vitamin D. Supplementation is not necessary unless there’s a medical reason due to malabsorption or lack of sunlight.
He asserts that there is no vitamin D insufficiency. However, severe vitamin D deficiency (nanograms/milliliter) is the only category that counts. The recommended vitamin D level is between 20-40 ng/mL.
