Are The Risks of Vitamin D Toxicity Overstated?
Vitamin D is a controversial, yet popular supplement. The reason for this controversy is that many people worry about the possibility of developing toxicities from taking more Vitamin D than the recommended dosage.
This is a valid concern: Vitamin D It is fat-soluble. This means that it is more likely to be absorbed into the body longer than water-soluble vitamins like vitamin B-group vitamins or vitamin C.
However, vitamin D deficiency has been declared an epidemic and more people are looking into supplementing with it. It will therefore be more scrutinized than other fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, K and E.
Experts disagree, arguing that vitamin D is toxic and the fear surrounding it has been exaggerated.
Fears from the Past Fuel Current Fears
Dr. Michael Holick, endocrinologist, argued that much of the fear today about toxicities stems from decades-old clinical studies. In his commentary titled, “Vitamin D Is Not as Toxic as Was Once Thought: A Historical and an Up-to-Date Perspective.”
Before vitamin D was discovered in the late 1920s and its use in treating rickets in children, the disease that causes bowed legs in children with a child’s body, was common in Europe and the East Coast.
Vitamin D fortification was first implemented in 1930s when people realized vitamin D could prevent rickets. This was met with great success. Children who drank fortified dairy milk were no longer prone to rickets. This led to vitamin D fortification being widely adopted in Western countries.
In the 1940s, vitamin D toxicities were first reported. Vitamin D is also known to regulate the immune system and decrease inflammation. It was first used in the treatment of rheumatoid and a rel=”https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960076018306228?via%3Dihub”>tuberculosisOften, in massive doses of 100,000-600,000 international units per day.
It is not known why these dosages were chosen. Some people experienced miraculous improvements, but there were also fears about high levels of vitamin D toxicity. Many people developed kidney stones or calcification of the kidneys. Some even died from toxicities complications.
Doctors were notified about the toxic effects of vitamin D. Treatment was stopped but symptoms of the intoxication took several months to resolve.
Many infants were then born with facial abnormalities and heart defects in the 1950s. It was found that the excessive intake of vitamin D from fortified foods, such as milk, is likely to be responsible.1, 2).
This conclusion was based upon literature that indicated that rodents pregnant with intoxicating amounts of vitamin D gave birth to the same abnormalities.
This led to the ban on vitamin D fortification in Great Britain. The concern of toxicity in children led most of the world—except the United States, Canada, Australia, and a few European countries—to also ban vitamin D fortification.
Holick speculated in retrospect that it was possible that these infants were resistant to vitamin D. He suggested that Williams syndrome, as well as other conditions that inhibit the breakdown of vitamin A, might be the cause.
However, vitamin D is still considered one of the most harmful fat-soluble vitamins. “has been instilled in the psyche of health regulators and the medical community,” Holick wrote.
Vitamin D Toxicity and Tolerance levels may be higher
Joseph Bosiljevac, a surgeon and physician, has been practicing for over 20 years. He found that most of the vitamin D recommendations had not changed in the past 20 years.
This could also be an indication of old beliefs about vitamin toxicity.
From the 1980s through 2011, the daily intake of vitamin D was generally 400 IU.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM), in 2011, increased the daily intake of vitamin B1 to 600 IUs, for those aged between 1 and 70. This is the recommendation It continues to be so today It was based on the assumption that most people would get their vitamin D from sun exposure.
Many medical providers and academics have complained that the IOM’s daily recommendation are too low.
According to the IOM, vitamin D sufficiency is defined as a person whose vitamin D serum levels exceed 20 ng/ml. Amounting to around 100 IUs Vitamin D Would increase serum levels by 1ng/ml. 600 IUs would give you 6 ng/ml of dietary vitamin. The guidelines assume that most of the vitamin D needs are met by sunlight.
However, times have drastically changed, according to William Grant, who holds a doctorate of physics and has published over 200 papers about vitamin D. Grant also directs the Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center. Grant argues that not enough people spend enough time in sunlight to make adequate vitamin D.
After consuming vitamin A, your body produces approximately 1,000 IU. 10 to 15 minutes sun exposure. It only occurs in broad sunlight.
These days, most people use sunscreen. In fact, since 2020’s pandemic, people have been spending more time at home. These factors together greatly reduce sun production and make it difficult for individuals to attain adequate diets.
Grant also suggested that many people might be able tolerate significantly higher amounts of vitamin D than the recommended amount.
The upper limit for serum levels is 50 ng/ml according to the guideline. However, the guideline states that 50 ng/ml is the upper limit of serum level. Frontiers in Endocrinology 2018 ReviewOnce serum levels of vitamin D exceed 150 ng/ml or more, symptoms such as intoxication can begin to develop. That’s equivalent to 15,000IU daily.
This is seven times more than the official recommendation for serum Vitamin D levels.
Grant The 2011 report was cited. This study followed two patients who had hypercalcemia due to consuming over 900,000 IUs vitamin D3 daily.
The most severe case was that of the first patient. The first patient was the most extreme. He consumed over 1.8 Million IUs of vitamin D3 every day for two months. Hypercalcemia developed, and he had a vitamin D serum concentration of 1,220 ng/ml.
The two patients became symptomatic after their vitamin D serum levels dropped to below 400ng/ml. This is 20 times the recommended cut-off by the National Institutes of Health.
Both patients were able to recover without complications.
Vitamin D Toxicity Reports Increased in Recent Years For Various Reasons
Toxicity is a serious problem that should not be ignored
With Over 41 percent Vitamin D treatment is increasingly being used to treat vitamin D deficiencies in the United States. Additionally, reports of toxicities have increased.
A Study that followed vitamin D The number of exposures reported to U.S. poison centres between 2000 and 2014 increased by 1,600% compared to 2005.
It was also revealed that, despite increasing reports over time, there has been no statistically significant increase in severe outcomes.
Literature reports on vitamin D toxicities have increased since 2010.
A 2018 review article found that vitamin D toxicities can be deadly. Usually, it is because of Prescription errors, accidental ingestions of toxic amounts of vitamin D through product mislabeling, as well as increased use of high-dose supplements.
Vitamin D Toxicity: Hypercalcemia is the Main Concern
Vitamin D improves the ability of the stomach to absorb calcium from the diet. Hypercalcemia, which is a serious consequence of vitamin D toxicities, can also be seen in the blood.
According to the Frontiers in Endocrinology review confusion, apathy (recurrent vomiting), abdominal pain, excessive thirst, excessive urination or thirst, as well muscle and bone pain are all common signs of hypercalcemia.
It can lead to calcification of soft tissues and kidney stones in severe cases. Deaths have been reported in extreme cases.
Hypercalcemia, however, is uncommon and the clinical complications of hypercalcemia, are even less common.
Ana Mihalcea (board-certified internist) said that vitamin D injections are an integral part of her clinic’s treatment. However, she has never seen any patients get toxic effects from vitamin D injections.
Dr. Patrick McCullough, a board-certified internist who has published several papers on the use of vitamin D in treatment—especially high-dose vitamin D—told The Epoch Times that most of the hypercalcemia he has observed is easily reversible.
McCullough stated that vitamin D deficiencies are more dangerous because of the wide tolerance range for vitamin doses.
Three Factors Which Increase the Risk of Toxicity
1. Mislabeling, Prescription Errors
Manufacturer mislabeling and prescription errors are two of the main reasons for today’s high levels of toxicology.
Supplements are not subjected to FDA regulation for their safety, effectiveness or labeling. Many supplements have dosages that differ from the labeled dose, and often include instructions for dietary intake that may be insufficient or toxic.
Holick’s case report shows that the patient took vitamin D3. “more than 1,000 times what the manufacturer had led the patient to believe he was ingesting,” The author wrote.
There have been several instances where prescription errors regarding the time between intakes and dosage per intake were made. Vitamin toxicities resultedIt is important to check with your pharmacist and other health care professionals before you start supplementation.
2. Drug Interactions
Certain drugs or ahref=”https://www.theepochtimes.com/t-supplements”>supplements Hypercalcemia and toxicities can occur when vitamin D supplementation is combined.
Calcium levels may be increased by taking calcium supplements or eating calcium-rich dairy products with vitamin D.
Certain diureticsCalcium can be concentrated by reducing fluid levels in the body. Taking lithium Vitamin D toxicity may also be increased.
3. Genetic Factors
Certain people are more susceptible to vitamin D toxicity due to their genetic makeup.
Williams syndrome, one example of a hereditary disease, is also known. Hypocalcemia familial Persons who start with a higher level of calcium are more susceptible to toxic effects.
Sarcoidosis And a href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613951/#:~:text=Conclusions,%2C%20nephrocalcinosis%2C%20and%20renal%20stones”>24-hydroxylase deficiencies Vitamin D levels are elevated, which in turn results in an increase of calcium.
There are ways to reduce vitamin D toxicity
Drinking water, taking vitamins and other supplements are some of the best ways you can reduce your chance of developing hypercalcemia. vitamin K2 And Magnesium.
Drinking six to 8 glasses of water daily can help reduce hypercalcemia risk.
By directing calcium into the bone, vitamin K2 can be taken with magnesium.
Vitamins must be taken at the most appropriate dosage for each individual.
Mihalcea’s patients might have a baseline level of vitamin D of 30 ng/ml and still show symptoms of deficiency like fatigue, sleeping problems, and difficulty with concentration.
These patients may experience relief if their vitamin D serum levels reach 70 ng/ml.
It is important to also investigate. “the different absorption rates in different people,” She continued.
Some people notice a significant increase in vitamin D after supplementation. Others may experience a subtle increase.
Mihalcea explained that patients who have been diagnosed with obesity or other digestive problems are less likely to absorb vitamin D. She may recommend giving them 25,000 IUs per day to help them reach 50 ng/ml.
“There’s a huge variation and I’m always concerned when people just put out this idea that everybody can take the same amount—no, [you can’t],” She spoke.
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