What happens if vitamin d levels are too high

Finally, you can also get a sense of the vitamin D content of various kinds of food by visiting the National Institutes of Health's resource on vitamin D see Table 3. If vitamin D toxicity occurs, your healthcare provider may suggest restricting your dietary calcium intake. Treatment may also include discontinuing the use of any vitamin D supplement—at least temporarily.

In food, vitamin D can be found in beef liver, egg yolks, and fatty fish like salmon and tuna. There are also many fortified foods, like milk and dairy products, that provide your body with vitamin D. Studies have even shown that low vitamin D levels may be connected to higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mood disorders, and dementia.

Testing your vitamin D levels can help you determine if your levels are normal or if you may need to make adjustments and have a discussion with your healthcare provider. Our at-home vitamin D test kit lets you check your levels easily—it only requires a simple finger prick blood sample, and shipping is free both ways. Vitamin D during pregnancy. When should you take vitamin D? What is vitamin D toxicity? Excessive amounts of vitamin D in the body can cause calcium levels in the blood to rise.

This can lead to a condition called hypercalcemia too much calcium in your blood. Symptoms include:. Your doctor may also perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms.

If your doctor suspects that you may have hypervitaminosis D, they may order tests, including:. Your doctor will likely advise you to stop taking vitamin D supplements immediately.

They may also recommend that you reduce the amount of calcium in your diet temporarily. In some cases, corticosteroids or bisphosphonates may suppress the release of calcium from your bones. Discontinuing or lowering your intake of high-dose vitamin D supplements can prevent hypervitaminosis D. The tolerable upper limit, or the maximum daily intake of vitamin D that is unlikely to result in any health risks, has been set at 4, IUs per day.

Adverse effects have been seen in those taking less than 10, IUs per day over an extended period of time. Your doctor may also recommend that you lower the amount of calcium in your diet. Careful monitoring is necessary until your vitamin D levels are back to normal. You can also find foods fortified with vitamin D, including milk, orange juice, and yogurt.

Moderate exposure to sunlight is another source of natural vitamin D. These include nausea , vomiting, and poor appetite. One study followed 10 people who had developed excessive calcium levels after they had taken high-dose vitamin D to correct deficiency. Four of them experienced nausea and vomiting, and three of them had a loss of appetite Similar responses to vitamin D megadoses have been reported in other studies. One woman experienced nausea and weight loss after taking a supplement that was found to contain 78 times more vitamin D than stated on the label 13 , Summary In some people, high-dose vitamin D therapy has been found to cause nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite due to high blood calcium levels.

Stomach pain, constipation , and diarrhea are common digestive complaints that are often related to food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome. However, they can also be a sign of elevated calcium levels caused by vitamin D intoxication These symptoms may occur in those receiving high doses of vitamin D to correct deficiency. As with other symptoms, response appears to be individualized even when vitamin D blood levels are similarly elevated.

In one case study, a boy developed stomach pain and constipation after taking improperly labeled vitamin D supplements, whereas his brother experienced elevated blood levels without any other symptoms In another case study, an month-old child who was given 50, IU of vitamin D3 for 3 months experienced diarrhea, stomach pain, and other symptoms.

These symptoms resolved after the child stopped taking the supplements Summary Stomach pain, constipation, or diarrhea may result from large vitamin D doses that lead to elevated calcium levels in the blood. Because vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism, getting enough is crucial for maintaining strong bones. Although many symptoms of excessive vitamin D are attributed to high blood calcium levels, some researchers suggest that megadoses may lead to low levels of vitamin K2 in the blood To protect against bone loss, avoid taking excessive vitamin D supplements and take a vitamin K2 supplement.

You can also eat foods rich in vitamin K2, such as grass-fed dairy and meat. Summary Although vitamin D is required for calcium absorption, high levels may cause bone loss by interfering with vitamin K2 activity. In one case study, a man was hospitalized for kidney failure, elevated blood calcium levels, and other symptoms that occurred after he received vitamin D injections prescribed by his doctor Indeed, most studies have reported moderate-to-severe kidney injury in people who develop vitamin D toxicity 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 16 , 17 , In one study in 62 people who received excessively high-dose vitamin D injections, each person experienced kidney failure — whether they had healthy kidneys or existing kidney disease Summary Too much vitamin D may lead to kidney injury in people with healthy kidneys, as well as those with established kidney disease.

Vitamin D is extremely important for your overall health. Even if you follow a healthy diet, you may require supplements to achieve optimal blood levels.

Make sure to avoid excessive doses of vitamin D. Generally, 4, IU or less per day is considered safe, as long as your blood values are being monitored.

In addition, make sure you purchase supplements from reputable manufacturers to reduce the risk of accidental overdose due to improper labeling.