Adequate levels of vitamin D are essential for your health. However, as with many vitamins, an excess of vitamin D can be deleterious. Some of the symptoms of a vitamin D overdose can cause your blood pressure to drop. Talk to your doctor before taking any sort of vitamin D supplement.
Blood Pressure Control
Your blood pressure is the pressure of the blood as it goes through your arteries. The amount of blood in your cardiovascular system has a potent effect on your blood pressure. How well your heart is pumping also affects your blood pressure, and heart problems often lead to a drop in blood pressure. Finally, your kidneys make hormones that help regulate your blood pressure by controlling the constriction of your arteries.
Vitamin D Function
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin naturally found in fatty fish and commonly added to dairy products. Your body also synthesizes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light rays from the sun. One of the most important roles of vitamin D in your body is in controlling the amount of calcium in your blood because your intestines need vitamin D to efficiently absorb dietary calcium.
Effect on Blood Pressure
Too much vitamin D can cause a sudden drop in your blood pressure due to high calcium levels. An overdose of vitamin D can cause vomiting and an increase in urination, which can ultimately lead to dehydration. If you become dehydrated, your blood volume drops, resulting in a decrease in blood pressure. Vitamin D toxicity also causes irregular heart rhythms, causing blood to be pumped less efficiently. Too much vitamin D can also damage your kidneys, further disrupting control of your blood pressure.
Considerations
The maximum recommended amount of vitamin D you should consume each day is 100 mcg, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. A vitamin D overdose can be diagnosed by measuring the amount of both vitamin D and calcium in your blood. If you are concerned about the amount of vitamin D you are consuming each day, talk to your doctor.
