Vitamins, including vitamin D, are substances which the body needs in relatively low levels to function properly. Although taking vitamin D supplements can help improve your overall health, there can be a risk associated with taking too much vitamin D. A dose of 5,000 IU per day may be higher than is necessary, though it is not clear if this dose can cause symptoms of a vitamin D toxicity.
Vitamin D and Health
Vitamin D can be found in a few foods and is frequently added to milk. This vitamin is needed for the body to maintain calcium and phosphate levels to maintain the strength of bones. Vitamin D is also needed for the function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, two different cells needed for bone remodeling, which also maintains bone strength. In addition to its role in bone strength, vitamin D is also needed to make new proteins, reduce inflammation and maintain the immune system.
Vitamin D Safety
Vitamin D levels in foods and supplements are typically measured in International Units or IUs. Like many vitamins, there is a maximum daily dosage of vitamin D, which is considered safe; this measurement is known as the tolerable upper limit or TUL. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, consuming between 10,000 and 40,000 IU of vitamin D could be toxic, but the tolerable upper limit of vitamin D is 4,000 IU, because doses higher than this may cause chronically high vitamin D levels. Thus, taking 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily may result in health problems.
Hypervitaminosis D
If you consume too much vitamin D on a regular basis, you may develop symptoms of hypervitaminosis D. This condition can cause calcium levels to get too high in your blood, which can increase your risk of developing kidney stones. Other symptoms of hypervitaminosis D include dehydration, excessive urination, fatigue, muscle weakness, irritability and vomiting. Hypervitaminosis D is usually diagnosed by measuring the amount of vitamin D and calcium in your blood and can be treated by limiting vitamin D intake.
Vitamin D Dosage Controversy
The tolerable upper limit of 4,000 IU of vitamin D may be unnecessarily low, the Vitamin D Council explains. The Council reports that exposure to sunlight for 30 minutes causes your body to produce 10,000 IU of vitamin D, which causes no ill effects. It also claims that vitamin D sensitivity, which can be caused by overactive parathyroid glands, is often misdiagnosed as vitamin D toxicity. Consequently vitamin D may be safe in higher doses than recommended, which means that 5,000 IU of vitamin D is unlikely to cause significant health problems.
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