Members of the medical community are concerned about the overuse of vitamin D and warn that too much of this common supplement can sometimes be fatal. The warning comes after an 89-year-old Englishman died as a result of taking large amounts of vitamin D for nine months, reports Yahoo!life.
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Hypervitaminosis is a condition induced by the existence in the body of an exaggerated amount of various vitamins, an amount that exceeds what is necessary and that cannot be used in any way by the body. This condition is often caused by an exaggerated intake (via vitamin supplements) and is toxic.
Normally, the body removes excess vitamins through urine. This is true for water-soluble vitamins, as they can dissolve and be easily eliminated. However, in the case of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), this elimination process is not as efficient and these vitamins can accumulate in the body's fatty tissues.
Excess vitamin D can increase the predisposition to some types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. Early symptoms of vitamin D poisoning are loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, followed by weakness, nervousness and high blood pressure.
It should be emphasized that neither eating foods rich in vitamin D nor exposure to the sun can cause the accumulation of dangerous amounts of vitamin D in the body. Hypervitaminosis D is most often caused by the use of combined dietary supplements.
This also happened in the case of the Englishman who died. He used various supplements, which ultimately led to the accumulation of extremely high levels of vitamin D. “There were no warnings on or in the packaging detailing the specific risks or side effects of taking vitamin D supplements,” the coroner wrote in his official report. “In my view, there is a risk that future deaths will occur if action is not taken.”
In terms of dosage, 600 international units (IU) is the recommended amount for most adults. Taking 60,000 or more IU per day for several months can cause an overdose, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Current food labeling requirements do not require these risks and side effects to be written on the package,” say the specialists about “absence of adequate dosage warnings and guidance”.
In the United States, the FDA has pressured the pharmaceutical industry to make potentially dangerous supplements look and taste less like candy to prevent overconsumption.
