Almost everyday, I am getting patients telling me about their taking Vitamin D supplements regularly. Parents are giving vitamin d supplements to their kids for their better heights. Parents are giving vitamin d supplements to their kids and children of all ages for their better bone growth. Parents are giving vitamin d supplements to their children for their vague pains without consulting their doctors.
Even, people of all ages and all gender are taking vitamin d supplements becuase some doctor or some relative or some friend advised them to take it.
I am sure, you must have heard similar stories. Yesterday, one patient asked me about side-effects or bad-effects of taking excessive vitamin d or overdose of vitamin d.
Vitamin D is a vitamin. It can be found in small amounts in a few foods, including fatty fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines and tuna. To make vitamin D more available, it is added to dairy products, juices, and cereals that are then said to be “fortified with vitamin D.”
But most vitamin D – 80% to 90% of what the body gets – is obtained through exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D can also be made in the laboratory as medicine.
Side-effects or bad-effects of taking excessive vitamin d or overdose of vitamin d:
Most people do not commonly experience side effects with vitamin D, unless too much is taken.
Some side effects of taking too much vitamin D include weakness, fatigue, sleepiness, headache, loss of appetite, dry mouth, metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, and others.
Taking vitamin D for long periods of time in higher doses is POSSIBLY UNSAFE and may cause excessively high levels of calcium in the blood. However, much higher doses are often needed for the short-term treatment of vitamin D deficiency. This type of treatment should be done under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vitamin D is LIKELY SAFE during pregnancy and breast-feeding, but do not use higher doses. Vitamin D is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in higher amounts during pregnancy or while breast-feeding. Using higher doses might cause serious harm to the infant.
Kidney disease: Vitamin D may increase calcium levels and increase the risk of “hardening of the arteries” in people with serious kidney disease.
High levels of calcium in the blood: Taking vitamin D could make this condition worse.
“Hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis): Taking vitamin D could make this condition worse, especially in people with kidney disease.
Sarcoidosis: Vitamin D may increase calcium levels in people with sarcoidosis. This could lead to kidney stones and other problems. Use vitamin D cautiously.
Histoplasmosis: Vitamin D may increase calcium levels in people with histoplasmosis. This could lead to kidney stones and other problems. Use vitamin D cautiously.
Over-active parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism): Vitamin D may increase calcium levels in people with hyperparathyroidism. Use vitamin D cautiously.
Lymphoma: Vitamin D may increase calcium levels in people with lymphoma. This could lead to kidney stones and other problems. Use vitamin D cautiously.
Tuberculosis: Vitamin D might increase calcium levels in people with tuberculosis. This might result in complications such as kidney stones.
In the end, I would say one must take vitamin d supplements under the supervision of doctor.
