WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF VITAMIN D EXCESS (TOXICITY)?

Vitamin D is essential but too much can be harmful because it’s fat-soluble (stored in fat and liver, not easily flushed out like vitamin C).

⚠️ Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin D Toxicity (Hypervitaminosis D)

🔹 Early Symptoms

• Nausea, vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination (especially at night)
• Constipation

🔹 More Serious Symptoms (from high calcium in blood – hypercalcemia)

• Kidney problems: kidney stones, kidney damage
• Muscle weakness
• Bone pain (ironically, too much vitamin D can weaken bones)
• Confusion, disorientation, or cognitive issues
• Irregular heartbeat

📊 Vitamin D Levels and Risk of Toxicity

• Normal: 20–50 ng/mL (50–125 nmol/L)
• Potentially harmful: > 60 ng/mL (150 nmol/L) if sustained long-term
• Toxicity: usually when > 100 ng/mL (250 nmol/L)
• Usually caused by high-dose supplements, not diet or sun (your skin naturally stops producing vitamin D if you get too much sunlight).

💊 Upper Safe Intake (Tolerable Upper Limit)

• Infants (0–12 months): 1,000–1,500 IU/day
• Children (1–8 years): 2,500–3,000 IU/day
• Adults & teens (9+ years): 4,000 IU/day
• Pregnant & breastfeeding women: 4,000 IU/day

Toxicity usually happens when people take 10,000 IU/day or more for months without medical supervision.

✅ In short: Vitamin D toxicity is rare, but it can be dangerous. It’s safest to check blood levels if taking supplements long-term, especially in high doses.