Caution: an overdose of vitamin D can be life-threatening

In German poison information centers, inquiries regarding the receipt of high-dose vitamin D preparations are increasing. There have already been 162 such cases this year, 31 more than in 2021, the head of the poison information center in Erfurt, Dagmar Prasa, told the German Press Agency. Vitamin D has moved up to 17th place from 69th place last year in the ranking of the drugs most frequently referred to in the calls.

This is probably related to Corona and the belief that vitamin D protects better once morest infections, said Prasa. There are some very high-dose preparations on the market – also as dietary supplements. “If you make a mistake with the dosage and take a milliliter instead of a drop, you already have a clear overdose,” said Prasa.

consequences of overdose

If you take too much vitamin D, you don’t have to worry regarding anything. “It becomes a problem if you do it every day,” said the pharmacist. A chronic overdose causes the calcium level in the blood to rise and this has other consequences. This can lead to cardiac arrhythmia and kidney damage. According to Prasa, most of the inquiries concerned a one-time, accidental overdose or that children had served themselves.

The human body forms vitamin D itself under the influence of sunlight. It is therefore also known as the sun hormone. Vitamin D contributes to bone stability and is important for the immune system. It can protect once morest acute respiratory infections.

In hospital

Two cases from the past year show how dangerous an overdose can be. In Great Britain, for example, a man had to be hospitalized following a month of severe vitamin D overdose, which became progressively worse. Although he stopped taking supplements following four weeks because of the symptoms, he continued to feel unwell. His condition became so serious that two months later he had to be hospitalized and was treated with medication for eight days. The doctors wanted to lower the calcium level in their patient’s blood as quickly as possible. At the follow-up two months later, the doctors treating him found that the man’s blood calcium levels had dropped to almost normal levels. Although the vitamin D level has also improved significantly, it is still high.

Baby got too much

The overdose was also life-threatening for a seven-month-old infant in Germany who had lost seven percent of his weight in just three weeks and had to be transferred to the intensive care unit. Investigations revealed a pronounced electrolyte disturbance with increased potassium and calcium levels and reduced sodium levels.

Discussions with the parents revealed that the child had been given a highly concentrated vitamin D supplement in the form of drops, obtained over the internet, for regarding five months. Instead of the original doctor-prescribed vitamin D prophylaxis of 500 IU per day, the infant had received approximately 40,000 IU per day. Friends had therefore recommended the parents to increase it. Luckily, the doctors were able to save the child.

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