Published on Mar 21, 2023 - 5 min read
Abstract
Vitamin D is essential for the bones, but its overconsumption can also cause severe toxicity in the body. Read the article to know more about it.
Introduction
Vitamin D is essential for nerves, muscles, bones, and the immune system. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that can get stored in adipose tissues and the liver. Taking high doses of this vitamin D can cause toxicity in the body as it can cause hypercalcemia or calcium buildup in a person's body. The condition can also lead to kidney problems like calcium stone formation and bone pain. Vitamin D toxicity is potentially caused by overdosing on vitamin D supplements, not by sun exposure or food. It can also lead to an imbalance in bone metabolism along with hypercalcemia and thus causes symptoms of toxicity in the person’s body. In addition, antacids, anti-tuberculosis medicine, estrogen therapy, and isoniazid can also cause hypervitaminosis D in a person. The doctors usually recommend 600 IU of vitamin D in adults for treating the deficiency. Still, the dose can be increased for shorter durations to treat certain conditions like diabetes, severe vitamin D deficiency, and cardiovascular diseases. Regular consumption of vitamin D for a prolonged period can cause toxicity in the body.
The sources of vitamin D are:
Red meat.
Oily fish.
Fortified foods such as breakfast cereals and fat spreads.
Egg yolks.
Liver.
Cheese.
Vitamin D supplements are prescribed by the doctor when a person suffers from a deficiency of vitamin D. Excess of vitamin D supplements taken by people mainly causes vitamin D toxicity. However, the food one eats does not have large amounts of vitamin D, so it cannot cause toxicity. Therefore, people consume vitamin D supplements for several months and in much higher doses than the doctor prescribes, which leads to vitamin D toxicity.
The symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are as follows:
Irritability.
Dehydration.
Nausea and vomiting.
Muscle weakness.
Kidney stones.
Pain.
Confusion.
Tiredness.
Loss of appetite
Pain.
Excessive thirst with frequent peeing.
Tinnitus.
High blood pressure.
Vitamin D toxicity or hypervitaminosis D in children mainly occurs during the treatment of rickets. The condition arises from accidental intake of high vitamin D and causes symptoms such as constipation, lethargy, weakness, vomiting, anorexia, loss of appetite, hypotonia, and weakness. It also causes an increase in serum calcium levels in the child's body. Vitamin D toxicity also increases the risk of kidney stones in children. Mostly young children are more at risk of developing hypervitaminosis D.
Vitamin D toxicity in a person can occur due to overconsumption of vitamin D supplements prescribed by the doctor to treat medical conditions such as
Osteoporosis.
Renal osteodystrophy or skeletal problems caused by advanced kidney disease.
Malabsorption or trouble getting essential nutrients from the diet.
The condition can also occur if a person has some underlying conditions and still consumes vitamin D supplements. These medical conditions are as follows:
Kidney disease.
Histoplasmosis.
Liver disease.
Sarcoidosis.
Hyperparathyroidism.
The doctor can diagnose hypervitaminosis by physically examining a person and asking about the various symptoms. In addition, the doctor may also recommend various lab tests for diagnostic purposes. These tests include
Calcium levels in urine and blood.
Vitamin D levels in the blood.
Phosphate levels in the blood.
X-rays of the bone to determine if there are any signs of bone loss.
The doctor treats vitamin D toxicity in the following ways:
First, the doctor will ask to stop the patient's vitamin D and calcium supplements.
The doctor also monitors calcium levels during vitamin D toxicity treatment.
The doctor also manages the amount of calcium the patient consumes through food with a proper diet plan to limit calcium intake.
If a person suffers from kidney failure, hemodialysis is done to filter out the waste.
Sometimes, a doctor may need to give intravenous fluid to the patient to treat dehydration caused by vitamin D toxicity.
In addition, intravenous bisphosphonates are used to treat hypercalcemia, and corticosteroids are given to a person to reduce plasma calcium levels during vitamin D toxicity.
Corticosteroids or bisphosphonates also help in inhibiting bone resorption during hypervitaminosis D.
Radiographic diagnosis is not required in case of vitamin D toxicity, but if a person has mental status altered during admission to the healthcare center, a CT (computed tomography) scan of the brain should also be done.
The person usually recovers from vitamin D toxicity without significant complications. Some cases may develop hypercalcemia causing acute renal failure in a person. However, vitamin D toxicity rarely causes kidney failure.
The long-term complications include
Kidney failure.
Kidney stone.
Excess bone loss.
Kidney damage.
Hardening of soft tissues and arteries.
Thyrotoxicosis.
Hypercalcemia of malignancy.
Paget disease.
Vitamin A toxicity.
Hypercalcemia due to prolonged immobilization.
Milk-alkali syndrome.
Hyperparathyroidism.
Conclusion
Vitamin D toxicity is a severe condition that can cause potential damage to the body's organs and be fatal. Vitamin D supplements are readily available over the counter to treat certain medical conditions. But with potential benefits, the vitamin can cause severe toxicity in the body due to overdose or overconsumption by the person without proper knowledge. Therefore, the doctor should prescribe vitamin D to the patient with utmost precaution and continuous monitoring of the supplement dose taken by the patient. Patients receiving high-dose vitamin D supplements are at increased risk of developing fatal outcomes. Therefore, a person should take the supplements as prescribed by the doctor. If symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are experienced, one must contact the doctor immediately to avoid fatal consequences.
Last reviewed at:
21 Mar 2023 - 5 min read
RATING
Dentistry
Vitamin C Supplements - Uses, Safety, and Possible Interactions
Article Overview: Vitamin C has abundant profits for skin and overall health. Read the article below to know its proper dosage, sources, interactions, and related conditions. Read Article
What Is Vitamin C? Vitamin C is one of the essential vitamins needed for good health. It is also known as ascorbic acid and it is a water-soluble vitamin, besides vitamin B. It is required for growth and development and it helps the body in absorbing iron from the diet. Vitamin C aids in controlling... Read Article
Fish Oil - Sources, Benefits, Side Effects, Applications, and Precautions
Article Overview: Having long, shiny, healthy hair is a dream for every individual. Fish oil helps in maintaining it. Read the article to know more about fish oil. Read Article
Introduction: It is normal to lose hair every day. A person generally sheds 50 to 100 strands of hair every day. Then hair grows to its full length and prepares to shed. This is the natural hair growth cycle. If this gets disturbed, some nutritional supplements must be taken to tackle it. One such d... Read Article
Vitamin D Deficiency During Pregnancy
Article Overview: Vitamin D is an essential part of nutrition during pregnancy. Read this article to know the effects of vitamin D deficiency on maternal and fetal outcomes. Read Article
Why Is Vitamin D Important in Pregnancy? Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and a key modulator of calcium metabolism. During pregnancy, the calcium demands increase in the third trimester. Vitamin D is essential for maternal health, fetal skeletal growth, and optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. Th... Read Article
Most Popular Articles
Do you have a question on Vitamin D Toxicity or ?
Ask an expert Online