Vitamin D is very necessary for our body. This vitamin strengthens bones and muscles. Due to lack of vitamin D in the body, many types of diseases occur.
But do you know that excess amount of vitamin D in the body is also not good. This is called vitamin D toxicity or hypervitaminosis D. This is a serious condition, which is extremely dangerous to health.
People who take excessive supplements or prescribed medications to compensate for vitamin D deficiency are at increased risk of vitamin D toxicity.
In October 2024, a study was published in the online medical education platform Touch Endocrinology. In this, a study was conducted on the clinical and biochemical profile of 91 patients with hypercalcemia in a super specialty hospital in North India. It was found that vitamin D toxicity can cause hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia means that the amount of calcium in the blood is higher than normal.
So people who take vitamin D supplements should know how much vitamin D their body needs. So that they can avoid the toxicity of vitamin D.
So today Health waterIn we will talk about vitamin D toxicity. You will also know that-
- What are the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity?
- How can it be avoided?
How important is vitamin D for the body? The main function of vitamin D is to absorb calcium in the body. It helps in strengthening bones, teeth and muscles, cell growth and regulation of blood pressure. Due to its deficiency, the body cannot absorb calcium, which leads to weak bones and many other problems.
How much vitamin D does the body need? According to a study published in the National Institutes of Health, 20 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) of vitamin D in a healthy person's blood is considered normal. Levels above 50 ng/mL are considered high. If it is less than 12 ng/mL, it is called vitamin D deficiency.
According to a study published in the 'Indian Journal of Endochronology and Metabolism', vitamin D deficiency can usually be made up for by sunlight. A healthy person needs 1 hour of sunlight daily to maintain vitamin D levels.
When does vitamin D toxicity occur? Vitamin D toxicity occurs when vitamin D levels in the body become too high. This causes calcium to accumulate in the blood, which can cause hypercalcemia. This is usually caused by taking high doses of vitamin D supplements.
What are the Symptoms of Vitamin D Toxicity? Vitamin D toxicity can have a number of symptoms, mainly caused by hypercalcemia. Its initial symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive thirst and feeling weak. Apart from this there are some other features, understand them from the following graphic-
How can vitamin D toxicity be detected? To find out, doctors first take information about the patient's symptoms and ask about medications and supplements. Based on that they conduct some tests.
They may do a blood test to check the amount of vitamin D and calcium in the body. Apart from this, a kidney function test (KFT) can also be done to check the condition of the kidneys. Vitamin D toxicity can be detected by this test.
Who is at increased risk for vitamin D toxicity? Dr. Senior Consultant Internal Medicine, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Delhi. Very few people suffer from vitamin D toxicity, says Arvind Agarwal. But some people are more at risk. Understand it with the following indicators-
- People who take high doses of vitamin D supplements without consulting a doctor.
- People who take additional vitamin D supplements.
- People who take medicines related to bone problems for a long time.
How is vitamin D toxicity treated? Treatment of vitamin D toxicity primarily involves lowering blood calcium levels. For this, doctors first stop vitamin D and calcium supplements. It usually cures poisoning.
In cases of hypercalcemia, doctors give IV fluids through a vein to treat dehydration. IV fluids are a mixture of water and sodium chloride, also known as saline.
It is used to remove excess calcium from the body. In most cases it provides relief. But some severe toxicity cases may require hemodialysis. In this, waste, salt and fluid are filtered from the blood by a machine.
What to do to prevent vitamin D toxicity? There are some simple ways to avoid it. Adopting it can prevent diseases caused by vitamin D toxicity. Understand this from the following graphic-
What to do if vitamin D toxicity occurs? If you experience symptoms of vitamin D toxicity, consult a doctor first. Stop taking vitamin D supplements immediately.
Do not consume any type of supplement without consulting a doctor. Drink more water to flush excess calcium from the body. Take the medicines prescribed by the doctor on time and get the vitamin D level tested periodically.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
