Introduction
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are important for strong bones and teeth. However, taking too much vitamin D can have serious consequences for your health. In this article, we will discuss what happens to your body when you take too much vitamin D and how to prevent it. We will also discuss the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity and how to treat it.
What Happens to Your Body When You Take Too Much Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are important for strong bones and teeth. It also helps regulate your immune system and may even play a role in reducing your risk of certain diseases. While it’s important to get enough vitamin D, taking too much can be dangerous.
Signs of Vitamin D Toxicity
If you take too much vitamin D, you may experience a number of symptoms, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Confusion
- Excessive thirst
- Headache
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to stop taking the vitamin D supplement and contact your doctor.
Long-Term Effects of Vitamin D Toxicity
If you take too much vitamin D for an extended period of time, it can lead to more serious health problems, such as:
- Kidney damage
- High blood pressure
- Calcium deposits in the soft tissues
- Heart arrhythmias
- Bone pain
- Depression
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
Preventing Vitamin D Toxicity
The best way to prevent vitamin D toxicity is to make sure you’re getting the right amount of vitamin D. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 600 IU (international units) for adults up to age 70, and 800 IU for adults over 70. If you’re taking a vitamin D supplement, make sure you’re not taking more than the RDA.
It’s also important to talk to your doctor before taking any vitamin D supplements, as some medications and medical conditions can interact with vitamin D. Your doctor can help you determine the right amount of vitamin D for your individual needs.
Proper now, vitamin D is scorching as many docs, registered dietitians, and different well being consultants are saying it might reduce the severity of COVID-19 signs.
Why? The vitamin is understood to assist assist the immune system by lowering irritation within the physique attributable to the virus. Nonetheless, Ali Webster, PhD, RD, Director of Analysis and Diet Communications, Worldwide Meals Info Council, factors out that vitamin D will not be the top all be all. (Associated: The One Vitamin Medical doctors Are Urging Everybody To Take Proper Now)
“Latest evaluations of literature on the subject say that adequate proof to assist vitamin D supplementation for the prevention or therapy of COVID-19 continues to be missing,” she says.
Nonetheless, taking a vitamin D complement cannot harm you, that’s, until you overdose. Grownup women and men are inspired to devour 15 micrograms (mcg) or 600 worldwide items (IU) of this vitamin every day, Webster says. For these over 70 years of age, the really helpful dietary allowance is 20 mcg or 800 IU.
In some circumstances, well being care suppliers will prescribe greater doses of the complement to sufferers who’re poor or low on this vitamin. Nonetheless, taking excessive doses when your ranges are high-quality not solely is not vital, nevertheless it is also harmful.
“Earlier than beginning a supplementation routine, it is vital to seek the advice of with a well being care skilled and make it possible for your vitamin D standing is frequently monitored to evaluate any modifications that will must be made after you start taking the vitamin,” she provides.
Under, you may see 5 potential unintended effects of taking an excessive amount of vitamin D.
Since vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which simply means it is higher absorbed and transported in your physique if it is consumed with fats. This, partially, makes it attainable to devour in poisonous quantities. Webster explains that this vitamin will increase the uptake of calcium within the bloodstream which may trigger quite a lot of points. One such problem is nausea or, even vomiting.
In case you’re beginning to really feel nauseous whereas taking dietary supplements, this may very well be a sign that you are taking an excessive amount of of the fat-soluble vitamin.
Webster additionally says you is also vulnerable to experiencing dehydration when taking an excessive amount of vitamin D. As Sakiko Minagawa, MS, RD, LD informed Eat This, Not That! in 7 Facet Results of Not Ingesting Sufficient Water, indicators that point out you are not consuming sufficient water embrace an increase in physique temperature, drop in blood strain, muscle cramping, and constipation. If any of those signs are prevalent and also you’re additionally taking this vitamin, take into account taking a couple of days off after which resume by halving the dose.
Vomiting and dehydration can depart you feeling weak, however taking an excessive amount of vitamin D may also result in unexplained exhaustion. It’s possible you’ll even expertise a lack of urge for food, which might additionally make you are feeling fatigued.
One other threat consider taking an excessive amount of vitamin D is the event of kidney stones. Why? As Webster stated, vitamin D will increase the uptake of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract, which may then result in an excessive amount of of the mineral within the bloodstream. Having an excessive amount of calcium in your blood can then trigger kidney stones to type.
Talking of calcium, remember to try The 20 Finest Calcium-Wealthy Meals That Aren’t Dairy.
Within the worst-case situation, which means probably the most extreme situations of vitamin D toxicity, Webster says you would expertise coronary heart abnormalities. Nonetheless, you would need to be taking effectively over the really helpful quantity—particularly by way of supplementation—to ever really feel this harmful facet impact.
“It is vital to notice that extreme intakes of vitamin D are primarily the results of misusing dietary dietary supplements,” she says. “It isn’t regarded as attainable to get an excessive amount of vitamin D from solar publicity, and since vitamin D is in comparatively few meals, consuming poisonous quantities of it could be impossible.”
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