Most people obtain sufficient vitamin D from their diets and from being exposed to sunlight. Dairy products, such as cheese, butter and fortified milk, are typical dietary sources of vitamin D. And exposure to sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes three times per week can produce enough vitamin D to meet your body's needs. But neither method of obtaining vitamin D typically leads to hypervitaminosis D, or vitamin D toxicity.g
Vitamin D Toxicity
Vitamin D toxicity usually results after people take excessive doses of vitamin D supplements, though the condition is rare. The dangers that result from vitamin D toxicity mainly derive from vitamin D's role in aiding in your body's uptake of calcium. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, so an excessive amount of vitamin D in your body can lead to excessive calcium absorption.
Hypercalcemia
Symptoms of hypercalcemia -- an excessive buildup of calcium in your blood -- include nausea, poor appetite, vomiting, constipation, confusion, weakness, kidney stones and heart rhythm abnormalities. If you take vitamin D supplements and experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor. Let your doctor know how often you are in the sun, what dietary sources of vitamin D you typically eat, and how much vitamin D you take in through supplementation. If you have vitamin D toxicity, your doctor likely will direct you to stop supplementation and to decrease the amount of calcium in your diet. You also might need medication or a hospital stay if your case is extreme.
Prevention
Avoid excessive intake of vitamin D by following your doctor's recommendations, especially if you're at high risk. For example, people who have liver or kidney problems or who take thiazide-type diuretics face an increased risk of vitamin D toxicity, according to MayoClinic.com. Generally, people who eat balanced, nutritious diets and get occasional exposure to sunlight do not require supplementation to obtain a sufficient amount of vitamin D.
Safe Upper Limits
The safe upper limit of vitamin D intake for people ages 9 and older is 4,000 IU per day. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should adhere to the same recommendations, according to MedlinePlus. The safe upper limit for children ages 1 to 8 is 2,500 to 3,000 IU per day. Infants should receive no more than 1,000 to 1,500 IU per day. If you're not sure whether your vitamin D intake falls within a safe range, discuss your needs with your doctor.
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