Cautionary Vitamin D Use for Osteoporosis: An Expert’s Perspective

2024-01-01 08:12:31

Reporter Huang Zhongqiu/Reporting from Taipei

Lin Xuanren, Director of the Peritoneal Dialysis Unit of Asia University Hospital, reminds people with osteoporosis that they need to use vitamin D more cautiously (Photo/Provided by Asia University Hospital) Advertisement (Please continue reading this article)

▲ Lin Xuanren, Director of the Peritoneal Dialysis Unit of Asia University Hospital, reminds people with osteoporosis that they need to use vitamin D more cautiously (Photo/Provided by Asia University Hospital)

People who want to take vitamin D to supplement calcium should be careful, too much may cause kidney failure! Mr. Zhang, 48, has a drinking habit and suffered from alcoholic liver cirrhosis in the past. He also had to have bilateral artificial hip joints replaced due to osteoporosis. After hearing a friend tell him that “supplementing more vitamin D can preserve bones,” he swallowed it every day. After taking an excessive amount of vitamin D, symptoms such as constipation, drowsiness, frequent urination, and thirst were discovered. It turned out that due to taking too much vitamin D, hypercalcemia developed, and the kidney function was only 30 points. It was urgent. After seeking medical treatment, I stopped taking the medication and added a lot of fluids, and finally returned to normal values.

Chen Zhengguo, an attending physician at the Department of Hepatobiliary and Gastroenterology at Ajou University Hospital, said that Mr. Zhang was engaged in a heavy job and would invite his friends to have a drink following work. Over time, he developed symptoms of alcoholic cirrhosis, which also led to osteoporosis and ischemic disease of the femoral head. The necrosis not only made him unable to stand for long periods of time, but also made him very painful when walking. His condition improved slightly following he had an artificial hip joint replaced, so he kept asking how he might “preserve his bones.”

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A friend told him that “supplementing more vitamin D can preserve bones and even prevent osteoporosis.” He was very excited, so he went to the pharmacy to buy vitamin health food. Chen Zhengguo said that the recommended dose of vitamin D is 1 tablet per day, but he takes 2-3 tablets per day. Unexpectedly, more than 2 months later, symptoms such as constipation, drowsiness, frequent urination, and thirst began to appear. A few days ago, he was found unconscious lying in the living room by his family and was rushed to the hospital.

Chen Zhengguo pointed out that following a blood test, it was found that calcium ions in the blood were as high as 14.5 mg/dl, parathyroid hormone was 3.3 pg/ml, and the renal function score directly deteriorated from more than 80 points to more than 20 points. After questioning, it was discovered that it was due to active I overdosed on vitamin D3, so I stopped taking it urgently and replenished a lot of fluids before I finally regained consciousness. I went back to see a doctor a week later, and the values ​​returned to normal smoothly.

Lin Xuanren, attending physician at the Department of Nephrology and Director of the Peritoneal Dialysis Unit at Asia University Hospital, pointed out that vitamin D3 is divided into “active” and “inactive”. If we use the metaphor of a factory, inactive vitamin D3 is like a raw material. After being taken, it is metabolized by the liver and kidneys. , just like being processed in a factory, it becomes active vitamin D3, which can act on bones, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys, help bone osteogenesis, and increase blood calcium concentration.

Lin Xuanren suggested that what the public needs to supplement is “inactive” vitamin D3. This concept is like the purchase of raw materials in large quantities. The factory will automatically adjust the product quantity so that the active vitamin D3 will not increase endlessly and will not cause calcium and phosphorus Unbalanced, it is less harmful to the human body when taken in excess. If you take “active” vitamin D3 directly, your body will be unable to adjust. Especially if you take too much dose, it may cause fatal hypercalcemia. Therefore, active vitamin D3 will only be used for medical purposes, such as in patients with acute hypocalcemia or hypoparathyroidism.

Doctors remind that although vitamin D3 can help with osteoporosis, long-term excessive intake can also cause harm. People can also take in an appropriate amount of inactive vitamin D3 through sun exposure, diet, etc., in case of symptoms of hypercalcemia. It is necessary to seek medical treatment as soon as possible to find out the underlying cause, so that hypercalcemia can be completely cured and prevented.

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