Your body needs vitamin D to stay healthy, but too much can be toxic. Vitamin D can be ingested in food and produced by your body in response to sunlight. These natural forms cannot lead to excess. Even vitamin D supplements rarely cause harm, according to Mayo Clinic. High doses of vitamin D combined with preexisting health conditions are the most likely cause of overdose. If you believe you have excess vitamin D, look for the following signs and symptoms.
Gastrointestinal System
Several unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms occur when you have an excess of vitamin D. Nausea is a common sign of vitamin D overdose, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This medical center states that nausea usually leads to poor appetite, which often causes feelings of weakness. Other signs of excess vitamin D in your body include diarrhea or constipation. If you have any of these symptoms, a medical doctor should check you immediately.
Circulatory System
In addition to harming your gastrointestinal system, vitamin D excess often manifests itself in your circulatory system. Merck states that vitamin D excess causes a dangerously high level of calcium in your bloodstream. A test can verify this sign for you, if you are worried your calcium concentration is elevated and causing buildup. Vitamin D toxicity can also lead to abnormal heart beat and irregular heart rate. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your physician.
Urinary System
Signs of too much vitamin D can also be seen in your urinary system. According to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., of Mayo Clinic, vitamin D toxicity can make you excessively thirsty. Excessive water consumption usually leads to frequent urination--another common symptom of vitamin D overdose. A painful condition called kidney stones is also a symptom of consuming too much vitamin D. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals--usually excess calcium, in this case--that form in your kidneys. If you notice signs of kidney stones or are drinking and urinating more than usual, contact your doctor right away.
Musculoskeletal System
Too much vitamin D can also wreak havoc on your musculoskeletal system. The University of Maryland Medical Center lists muscle problems and bone pain as signs of vitamin D toxicity. According to the Linus Pauling Institute of Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health at the University of Oregon, the high calcium level in your blood caused by excess vitamin D can bone loss if the condition persists for a long period of time.
Member Comments