Vitamin D is essential for bone growth and health and works to regulate the level of calcium in your body. Too little vitamin D can cause weak bones and bone pain, but too much vitamin D can cause a condition known as hypervitaminosis D. When your body has too much vitamin D in your bloodstream, it in turn sends a signal for your body to release more calcium into the blood, increasing your risks of kidney stones.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, are a painful condition of the urinary tract that affects about 10 percent of all Americans and is more common in men than in women. Kidney stones form from an excess of minerals such as calcium. Small stones are able to pass through the urinary tract on their own and cause little discomfort. Larger stones can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, pain in the buttocks, nausea and vomiting, pain in the genital area, and fever and chills. Shock wave treatment can be used to shatter and reduce the size of large stones, though some can require surgery to remove.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that is essential for bone health and the regulation of calcium. It can be made naturally by your body through the exposure of your skin to the ultraviolet B rays of the sun. It can be found in fortified milk and oily fish such as salmon. Hypervitaminosis D is rare through dietary and sun exposure measures and usually occurs if you take too many vitamin D supplements. The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends adults ages 19 to 70 receive 600 IU of vitamin D a day and adults 71 and over receive 800 IU. The upper intake level has been set at 4,000 IU and you should not supplement more than that.
Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that is essential for the body and responsible for bone health, muscle function and nerve transmission. Calcium can be found in foods such as milk and other dairy products, salmon, sardines, spinach and kale. The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board has set a recommended daily allowance of calcium between 1,000 and 1,300 mg depending on age and gender. The safe upper limits are set between 2,000 and 3,000 mg. Excess calcium, or hypercalcemia, can increase your risk of kidney stones. Because calcium is regulated in the body by vitamin D, an excess in vitamin D can increase your serum calcium level.
Considerations
If you have had a regular problem with kidney stones, consult your physician about having your vitamin D and calcium levels tested. If you are taking vitamin D supplements, talk to your doctor about the possible need to reduce the amount you are taking to reduce your risk of kidney stones.
