Vitamin D: too much of a Good Thing Bad

One may wonder why a vitamin that is very essential to the body can become harmful. Yes, vitamin D is produced by direct exposure to sunlight and it is naturally produced in the human body, which is also fat-soluble making it completely harmless. When somebody has an excess of vitamin D supplements the probability of vitamin D toxicity might occur. When one consumes large amounts of vitamin d, the chances of vitamin D toxicity is high especially if the body fails to absorb it all. People have misconceptions that taking so many vitamins are harmless yet they never realize anything in excess could be harmful to one’s health. When people take anything in excess, the chance of things going wrong goes up.

Vitamin D toxicity can be described by the following symptoms.

The first effect of high levels of vitamin D in the body is elevated calcium level in the blood that results to hypocalcaemia. This can trigger either of the following effects, anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. If the symptoms are ignored, it may lead to disastrous effects of the body such as headaches, joint and bone pains, and irregular heartbeat. The most unnoticeable symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are excessive thirst, weakness, itching, and frequent urination. Others may misdiagnose this as a different illness like diabetes but in reality it is just an over consumption of Vitamin D. The worst things that may happen if the condition persist are ischemic hear disease and kidney failure due to the accumulation of calcium crystals.

Always remember that over exposure from the sun will not cause vitamin d toxicity. It will not also happen when eating foods rich with Vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements taken in excess can lead to breaking down of bones. So better proceed with caution.  Vitamin D toxicity happens once in a blue moon but that does not mean one should take it for granted. It is still important to consult a physician when taking the proper dosage of supplements. After all, the reason for taking it is prevention not to cause harm.