Taking 60,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity. This level is many times higher than that of the United States. UU. Mayo Clinic offers consultations in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System centers.
Vitamin D toxicity, also called hypervitaminosis D, is a rare but potentially serious condition that occurs when there are excessive amounts of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D toxicity is usually caused by large doses of vitamin D supplements, not diet or sun exposure. This is because the body regulates the amount of vitamin D produced by sun exposure, and even fortified foods don't contain large amounts of vitamin D. The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is the buildup of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination.
Vitamin D toxicity can progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones. Treatment includes stopping vitamin D intake and restricting calcium in the diet. Your doctor may also prescribe intravenous fluids and medications, such as corticosteroids or bisphosphonates. Taking 60,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to produce toxicity.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for most adults is 600 IU of vitamin D a day. Doses higher than the recommended daily dose are sometimes used to treat medical problems, such as vitamin D deficiency, but they are only given under the supervision of a physician for a specific period of time. Blood levels should be monitored while a person is taking high doses of vitamin D. As always, consult your doctor before taking vitamin and mineral supplements.
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Make your tax-deductible gift and be part of the cutting-edge research and care that are changing medicine. The dose at which vitamin D supplements become toxic is unclear. But it would have to be very high, well above the amount most doctors usually prescribe. Research shows that taking 60,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily for several months can cause toxicity.
In another study, participants took 400 IU, 4000 IU, or 10,000 IU of vitamin D over a three-year period. In most cases, you can get all the vitamin D you need naturally without taking supplements through sun exposure and diet. The current recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 600 IU per day for adults younger than 70 and 800 IU for older adults. Research suggests that potential risks of high-dose vitamin D supplementation include an increased risk of kidney stones and bone fractures.
Although deficiency of this nutrient is a very common problem, it is also possible, although rare, to have too much vitamin D. Experts recommend that people with typical vitamin D levels not exceed 4000 IU of vitamin D a day (2). Since the body regulates vitamin D production, they are unlikely to develop it as a result of sun exposure (although it has been linked to exposure to tanning beds). Some research has found that having too much vitamin D can interfere with the actions of vitamin K2, which is a nutrient that helps keep calcium in the bones.
Vitamin D deficiency is a real problem in many parts of the world, and many of us can benefit from taking vitamin D supplements, sometimes along with vitamin K. Taking vitamin D can increase blood calcium levels, and too much calcium can cause side effects. Taking too much vitamin D can cause too much calcium in your blood, known as hypercalcemia. Interestingly, a vitamin D deficiency can also damage the kidneys and lead to serious complications in people with kidney disease.
Hypercalcemia usually occurs after people take megadoses of vitamin D for a long period of time...
