Hypervitaminosis D is the medical term for vitamin D toxicity. The condition causes serious health problems, but it does not inhibit your thyroid, according to PubMed Health, a website affiliated with the National Institutes of Health. This condition is usually caused by prescription-strength doses of vitamin D; take vitamin D only if your doctor detects a need, and strictly follow dosage regulations.
Hypervitaminosis D Symptoms
Toxic levels of vitamin D cause gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and constipation. You may also lose your appetite and become dehydrated. Fatigue, irritability and muscle weakness are neurological symptoms of too much vitamin D. Whether you take an over-the-counter or prescription product, report those problems to your doctor if they arise while you are on the supplement.
Hypervitaminosis D and Calcium
Vitamin D facilitates the absorption of calcium. Therefore, high levels of the vitamin leads to equally high levels of the mineral in your bloodstream. Excessive calcium can cause kidney stones and bone loss. In severe cases, the condition becomes fatal as your organs, including your heart, harden, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Recommended Intake
Take vitamin D as prescribed by your doctor. If you experience symptoms, seek medical treatment immediately. She can order tests that measure levels of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorous in your bloodstream to make a diagnosis. X-rays may also show signs of bone loss, indicating hypervitaminosis D. In general, the vitamin D intake that the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends does not lead to toxicity: Babies need 400 IU of vitamin D until they turn 1 year old. From that day on, they require 600 IU of the nutrient daily through adulthood. At 71 years of age, individuals should raise their vitamin D intake to 800 IU every day.
Tolerable Upper Intake
Vitamin D toxicity may not inhibit your thyroid, but it can be fatal. The condition is so serious that the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine also established tolerable upper intake levels for the nutrient. That is the absolute maximum vitamin D you should have per day from foods and supplements combined. The dosage for newborns to 6 months of age should not exceed 1,000 IU and older babies up to their first birthday should not get more than 1,500 IU of vitamin D daily. Between 1 and 3 years of age, children can tolerate up to 2,500 IU of the nutrient every day. The tolerable upper intake level rises to 3,000 IU when kids turn 4 years old. It increases again to 4,000 IU on their ninth birthday and it stays at this level through adulthood.
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