Vitamin D Cautions
Article navigation
Certain people should not take vitamin D supplements without first consulting their doctor for advice:
- People with cardiovascular disease
- People with chronic diarrhoea
- People with epilepsy
- People with gastrointestinal problems
- People with kidney, liver or pancreatic disease
- People with sarcoidosis
- Women that are trying to get pregnant
Toxic Levels of Vitamin D
- Acute toxicity: Vitamin D is toxic at doses greater than 1000mcg (40000 IU) per day if taken for 1-4 months.
- Chronic toxicity: Doses of vitamin D higher than 75mcg (3000 IU) can produce toxicity symptoms if taken over many years.
Certain people should not take high levels of vitamin D supplements without discussing it with their medical practitioner
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms
Vitamin D can produce the following toxicity symptoms:
- Abdominal cramps
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Dry mouth
- Elevated blood calcium levels
- Headache
- Increased thirst
- Lethargy and feeling tired
- Loss of appetite
- Mental confusion
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
In addition to the above toxicity symptoms, overdosage of vitamin D supplements can deposit of the elevated calcium in various tissues in the body (such as blood vessels and the kidney), which could cause serious and life-threatening problems.
People who experience any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their vitamin D supplements and see their doctor for advice.
Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of vitamin D is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.