What Happens If You Take Too Much Vitamin D?

TheIndonesia.id - Vitamin D is essential for the body to maintain healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. However, excess vitamin D can cause various health problems. What happens if you take too much vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a type of fat-soluble vitamin, and functions to help the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. In addition, vitamin D is also known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, control infection, and relieve inflammation.

The recommended vitamin D requirement for adults is 15 micrograms or around 600 IU. If it is not fulfilled, a person will experience vitamin D deficiency which has the potential to cause various health problems such as osteomalacia. 

Vitamin D is formed in the skin with the help of sunlight. In addition, vitamin D intake can be obtained from food and supplements. Foods that contain vitamin D are salmon, egg yolks, and red meat. However, these foods generally can only provide around 140 IU of daily vitamin D needs.

To meet your vitamin D needs, it is recommended to get sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and take vitamin D supplements if necessary.

However, excess vitamin D due to the consumption of supplements that are not in the appropriate dosage can also have harmful effects on the body's health.

What happens if you take too much vitamin D? 

There are several dangers if you take excess vitamin D, including:

1. Hypercalcemia

Excess vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is a condition in which the level of calcium in the blood is above average, or higher than 10.8 mg/dL. There are several symptoms of hypercalcemia, including:

• No appetite
• Constipation
• Headache
• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Hypercalcemia can occur when a person takes high doses of vitamin D for a long time.

2. Disorders of the bones

Consuming vitamin D is beneficial for bone strength. However, consuming high doses of vitamin D can actually cause bone disorders.

Research shows that the higher the dose of vitamin D consumed, the higher the risk of fracture because excess vitamin D can interfere with the work of vitamin K2 which helps maintain calcium in the bones, making the bones lose their density.

3. Kidney damage

Excess vitamin D can cause kidney problems because the consumption of high doses of vitamin D will increase the absorption of calcium, thus causing the formation of kidney stones. In addition, excess vitamin D is also known to cause permanent kidney damage or kidney failure.

4. Digestive system disorders

Hypercalcemia that occurs due to excess vitamin D can cause various digestive disorders. This is usually marked by nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and constipation.

A study showed that taking more than 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 supplements for 3 months can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. These symptoms subsided after taking vitamin D3 supplements was discontinued.

5. Mental health disorders

Not only physically, but excess vitamin D can also affect a person's mental condition. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, confusion, or even coma. A person's mental condition will later improve along with a decrease in calcium levels in the body.

The excess vitamin D usually occurs if you take high doses of vitamin D supplements, not from exposure to sunlight or food. Therefore, make sure to take vitamin D supplements according to your daily needs, no more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) for adults.

In fact, consuming foods rich in vitamin D and getting at least 15 minutes of sun exposure a day is enough to meet your daily vitamin D needs.

However, if your condition does not allow you to get vitamin D naturally, you should first consult with your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements. Later, your doctor will determine the dosage of vitamin D supplements according to your health condition.