Health supplements can be beneficial, but it’s essential to remember that there can be too much of a good thing.
While incorporating nutrient-rich foods into your diet is an excellent way to enhance your vitamin and mineral intake, over-the-counter supplements can pose different risks.
A startling example comes from a man who learned the hard way about the dangers of exceeding the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D. His excessive intake resulted in several uncomfortable symptoms that necessitated a short hospital stay.
To prevent encountering similar issues, it’s prudent to be aware of the warning signs that you might be overdoing your health regimen.
A BMJ Case Report details how individuals may remain unaware of their excessive vitamin D intake until severe symptoms arise, which was the unfortunate situation for the aforementioned patient.
He had been consuming daily supplements, including an astounding 150,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D, a figure that is considered excessive.
A middle-aged man ended up ‘overdosing’ on vitamin D (Getty Stock Image)
According to the NHS, taking more than 4,000 IU daily can be harmful. They advise that just 10 micrograms per day is sufficient for most individuals looking to boost their vitamin levels.
The man experienced a range of distressing symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, leg cramps, tinnitus, and weight loss, lasting nearly three months.
He noted that his issues began about a month after he started a regimen of multiple supplements, recommended by a nutritional therapist to address various health concerns.
The case report highlighted that due to vitamin D’s long half-life, which is approximately two months, symptoms can persist for several weeks even as toxicity develops.
Even after discontinuing his supplements, his symptoms continued, leading to tests that indicated he suffered from an acute kidney injury, significantly elevated calcium levels, and vitamin D readings seven times higher than necessary for sufficiency.
Overdosing on vitamin D can cause hypercalcaemia, characterized by elevated calcium levels in the blood.
Experts warned that a lot of people are overdoing it with health supplements (Francis Dean/Corbis via Getty Images)
Recognizing the symptoms of hypercalcaemia is crucial, as they can indicate excessive vitamin D intake. You can easily remember the symptoms with the mnemonic ‘stones, bones, moans, and groans’—which encapsulates the common effects of high calcium levels.
This phrase suggests that one might experience kidney stones, bone pain, abdominal discomfort, and even neurological issues.
Typical symptoms of hypercalcaemia include bone pain, fatigue, muscle weakness, kidney stones, and nausea, among others. This particular patient spent eight days in hospital, where medical professionals administered intravenous fluids and medication to reduce his high calcium levels.
Two months later, although his calcium levels were restored to normal, his vitamin D levels remained ‘abnormally high.’
Hypercalcaemia can cause symptoms including kidney stones, nausea, vomiting, depression, confusion and coma (Getty Stock Image)
The NHS supports the BMJ report’s caution regarding excessive vitamin D intake, noting that it can lead to dangerous calcium build-up in the body (hypercalcaemia).
This condition can result in weakened bones, and additional damage to the kidneys and heart.
The report also associates ‘hypervitaminosis D’, or vitamin D toxicity, with a growing number of serious health complications. It points to a global increase in hypervitaminosis D, particularly affecting women, children, and surgical patients.
The case illustrates the potential hazards of supplements that are generally deemed safe when consumed in moderation.
As the saying goes, ‘everything in moderation’ is an essential principle to follow, even when it comes to health supplements.
