Hugger-mugger Side Effects of Taking Too Much Vitamin D, Says Science

Keep these in mind before taking that vitamin D supplement.

March 5, 2022

Out of all the nutrients that we need to eat, vitamin D tends to be one of the virtually controversial. All-encompassing research and skillful opinions have been thrown into the mix regarding vitamin D consumption, deficiency, and if you are in demand of supplementation. Just rarely are people talking virtually taking likewise much vitamin D, which, cheers to supplementation, can be happening easily.

Co-ordinate to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), established past the Institute of Medicine and the Nutrient and Nutrition Board, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D on a daily footing is 15 micrograms per day for adults under 70, and 20 micrograms for adults older than 70. When converted, this range is between 600 to 800 international units (IU).

While reaching toxic levels of vitamin D in your organization is quite rare, the DRI does prepare a tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 100 micrograms per 24-hour interval for anyone over the age of 19.

To put this into perspective, a majority of vitamin D supplements on the market range betwixt 1,000 to 10,000 IU, which equates between 25 micrograms to 250 micrograms per supplement.

And so can this negatively impact your body if you hit over the UL amount of vitamin D needed for the day? Nosotros dove into the research behind taking besides much vitamin D and the side effects you may not have known near if y'all supplement.

Oh, and don't worry—you lot tin can withal hang out in the beautiful sunshine! Experts claim hanging in the sunday won't overdo it on vitamin D in your system.

Here's what you need to know, and for even more than healthy tips, exist certain to read up on our list of Eating Habits to Lose Intestinal Fatty As Y'all Age, Say Dietitians.

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Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps with calcium absorption in your trunk. Hence why many people say vitamin D is important to consume when yous're older given the nature that calcium is a mineral that strengthens your bones. However, if y'all are overconsuming calcium (the DRI says between two,000 to 2,500 milligrams UL a day depending on your age), your trunk could be at take chances of developing hypercalcemia, according to the National Constitute of Health.

Once more, while reaching toxic levels of vitamin D is rare, the furnishings of hypercalcemia can exist severe and lead to these other symptoms.

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Woman with hands on stomach suffering from pain.
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Nausea and vomiting are both symptoms that come with taking too much vitamin D and hypercalcemia.

Annoyed brunette woman sitting in pajamas in bed and looking up
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Feeling drawn? Your vitamin D supplement may exist to arraign. Taking also much vitamin D can result in feelings of tiredness, which besides are linked to hypercalcemia.

Annoyed woman cranky on laptop
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Irritability is besides a common symptom of hypercalcemia and taking too much vitamin D. If this is something you are feeling regularly while taking a vitamin D supplement, it may be time to start evaluating your vitamin D consumption and ensuring you're not overdoing it.

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Lastly, one of the biggest side effects of hypercalcemia is developing kidney stones. One report published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that when the trunk experiences an increase in calcium (around 2,100 milligrams per day) with moderate amounts of vitamin D, the risk of developing kidney stones significantly increases. Plus, the study also shows that while hip bone density did increase for participants, the risk of hip fractures did not.

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There can exist many circumstances where 1 person may not become enough vitamin D. First, dominicus exposure may exist limited, or even protection from the UV rays past using sunscreen tin can create a barrier in getting a sufficient corporeality of vitamin D in a day.

2d, the foods that provide vitamin D are few and far between. Eggs, fish, mushrooms, fortified soy milk, fortified orange juice, as well as fortified dairy products, are sources of vitamin D. Only if you follow a institute-based diet, getting enough vitamin D from dietary intake can become complicated.

In order to get a sufficient amount of vitamin D from the sun, you need to expose your peel to sunlight twice a week for 5 to 30 minutes at the sun'south strongest times—betwixt 10 a.chiliad. and four p.grand. If you lot find that you are getting enough through dietary sources equally well equally semi-regular exposure to the sun, then y'all likely don't need supplementation at all.

However, if this is difficult for your lifestyle, talk to your doctor most your current vitamin D intake and if supplementation is needed—especially given that a true vitamin D deficiency can cause an increased hazard of colon cancer, cardiovascular affliction, falls at an older historic period (due to weaker bones), and fifty-fifty higher take a chance of mental illness. Low vitamin D has also been linked to increased symptoms of COVID-19.

For even more good for you tips, read these next:

  • Black Women at Greater Risk of This Vitamin Deficiency, Study Says
  • Popular Foods With More Calcium Than a Drinking glass of Milk
  • Sure Signs You're Lacking Vitamin D, Say Experts

Kiersten Hickman

Kiersten Hickman is a senior editor at Eat This, Not That!, with a principal focus on food coverage, nutrition, and recipe development. Read more