British man admitted to hospital: Vitamin D 'overdose' warning

 Several health experts warned against excessive intake of dietary supplements, including vitamin "D", after a British man was hospitalized after taking an overdose of them.

According to the American network "CNN", experts stated in a study published yesterday (Tuesday) that a British man took more than 20 supplements without a prescription daily, including 50 thousand international units (IU) of vitamin "D", 3 times a day, which is a dose hundreds of times higher than that recommended in the guidelines of health authorities.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency

• Within a month, the man, whose name was not disclosed, began to suffer from nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, frequent bouts of vomiting, cramps in the legs, and ringing in the ears.

• The man stopped taking the supplements after that, but his condition did not improve, and he lost 28 pounds (12.7 kg) of weight.

• Two months later, the man was hospitalized, the doctors said that he had a condition called "hypervitaminosis d".

• Dr. Al-Amin al-kundi, the co-author of the study and endocrinologist at William Harvey Hospital in East Kent, UK, who treated the man, said: "unlike water-soluble vitamins, which are easily absorbed by the body, vitamin D, as well as vitamins A and K, are stored in the liver and fat cells of the body. Hence, taking a large amount of the recommended daily dose can lead to increased levels of toxins in the body".

• Al-kundi added that the British patient was taking a daily dose of 150 thousand international units of vitamin "D"; that is, 375 times the recommended amount, as the "National Health Services Authority" in the UK usually recommends 400 international units of this vitamin per day for adults and children over one year old.

• Al-kundi pointed out that the man was treated with drugs to reduce calcium levels in his blood. Two months later, the calcium levels in his blood dropped to a near-normal level, but he still needs periodic follow-ups by doctors to make sure that he will not be exposed to any health risks again.

vitamin d dosage for adults

Other research studies have stated that the permissible daily dose for adults of vitamin D is
600 to 2000 IU once a day.

When vitamin D is taken in excess, calcium in the blood may reach levels that can cause distress and digestive disorders such as vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain.

Symptoms and treatment of excess vitamin D

• A person feels tired, dizzy, and confused.
• Severe thirst, bone problems, frequent urination, and may also lead to kidney failure.

• In this case, there is no need to worry because these symptoms occur.
• Excessive intake of vitamin D for at least more than a month is scientifically proven.

Vitamin D Excess Treatment

We recommend stopping vitamin D now
Lack of exposure to sunlight for the next period
Stop drinking milk, and refrain from eating fish and eggs. For at least a week after which the following examinations are required:

• Whole blood picture.
• The percentage of calcium in the blood.
• The ratio of vitamin D.
• Creatinine.