Vitamin D overdose – Brit hospitalized
Vitamins, vitamins – you need them, but not too many!
Source: Getty Images/Strauss/Curtis
About a third of the people in Germany suffer from vitamin D deficiency. But an overdose of dietary supplements can also have serious consequences, as a case from Great Britain now reveals.
WWelcome to the age of dietary supplements! Vitamin C, magnesium, omega 3: all kinds of vitamins and minerals are available in effervescent, tablet or capsule form in drugstores and supermarkets – and the number of enthusiastic buyers is increasing.
Vitamin D in particular is touted in society as the holy grail of supplements. How effective such preparations are, however, is discussed in research. One thing is certain: Vitamin D is stored in the body’s liver and fat cells. To the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) According to excessive intake of the vitamin can lead to poisoning – and cause serious damage to health.
A new case from Great Britain highlighted these dangers. A middle-aged man had to be hospitalized there for treatment of “hypervitaminosis D” – an oversupply of vitamin D in the body. In the journal “BMJ Case Reports“ the treating physicians describe the case and warn against an overdose of vitamin D.
The man took 20 different supplements as a vitamin cocktail
… on the recommendation of a nutritionist. The Brit went there after hearing a program about dietary supplements on the radio. In the UK, however, the term ‘dietitian’ does not have to mean anything: “Regulatory registration is not compulsory for dietitians in the UK and their title is not protected, so anyone can practice as a dietitian,” explains treating endocrinologist Dr. Alamin Alkundi in an interview with the US news channel CNN.
If you really need vitamin D capsules, you should follow the doctor’s recommendations for taking them
Credit: Getty Images/Mensent Photography
At the suggestion of the “nutrition expert”, the Briton took 150,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D every day – “375 times the recommended amount”, according to Dr. Alkundi. For comparison: The British health system (NHS) advises a vitamin D intake of no more than 400 IU per day, the German Society for Nutrition up to 800 IU. The patient also took a lot of preparations such as vitamin B9 and omega-3 too high a dose.
It didn’t take long for the symptoms to set in. Within a month, the man developed symptoms, after which he stopped taking the supplements. But the problems didn’t go away. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, leg cramps and tinnitus accompanied the Brit for three months. Finally, his family doctor ordered a blood test. The result:
The Brit’s vitamin D level was seven times above healthy levels
The Briton also suffered from hypercalcaemia (high blood calcium levels) and acute kidney failure. He had to spend a total of eight days in the hospital. The patient received an infusion and was treated with bisphosphonates – drugs that are used to “lower excessive calcium levels in the blood,” write the doctors in one press release.
The man took over 20 different dietary supplements every day for a month
Source: Getty Images/Onoky/Letizia Le Fur
The man’s blood levels improved significantly as a result of the treatment. But even two months after his hospitalization, his vitamin D levels were above normal. Together with the patient, the doctors developed a plan for regular monitoring to track the return to normal levels.
We have been in contact with him and he reported that he is doing much better, but he is still not the same.
Even before hypervitaminosis D, the Brit was struggling with health problems. These included tuberculosis, a tumor in the inner ear and bacterial meningitis.
Growing trend of hypervitaminosis D
Soaking up the sun stimulates the body’s own production of vitamin D
Source: Getty Images/Counter
As the authors themselves state, this study is only an isolated case. However, “a growing trend towards hypervitaminosis D” is emerging worldwide. Children, women and surgery patients are most commonly affected. According to the doctors, the symptoms of hypervitaminosis D are varied and are usually caused by an excess of calcium in the blood. The reason for this is that vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium from the intestine. An increased intake of vitamin D can also lead to demineralization of the bones. Fatigue, depression, psychosis, anorexia, vomiting, constipation, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, kidney abnormalities and many other ailments can occur as a result.
According to study from 2016, around 30.2 percent of adults in Germany are deficient in vitamin D. In northern European countries, the intensity and duration of solar radiation is lower compared to other regions. According to the RKI, vitamin D formation depends on the season.
Vitamin D is important for metabolism, bones and mood. In general, the RKI recommends that those affected stimulate the body’s vitamin D synthesis by spending more and longer periods in the sun. Supplements are also helpful, but should be taken in the correct dosage.
By the way: In addition to dietary supplements, non-prescription medicines can also have a negative impact on our health:
