2024-03-02 14:56:34
A man died in England from hypercalcemia following consuming an excessive amount of vitamin D for months. Although David Mitchener, aged 89, passed away in May 2023, the case was published by the Daily Mail only this week following tests revealed that the levels of the substance in his body were at a level never seen before.
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Vitamin D is produced from sun exposure and can be found, in smaller quantities, in food. The modern lifestyle, in which exposure to external environments is often restricted, leads many people to have vitamin D deficiency and resort to supplementation.
When vitamin D is obtained through exposure to the sun, there is no risk of toxicity, as the body can self-regulate the production of the hormone. When the source is supplements without adequate dosage and medical supervision, hypercalcemia can occur, when calcium begins to circulate in excess in the blood.
The risks of consumption?
According to the MSD Manual, which guides health professionals, the symptoms of vitamin D overdose are nausea, vomiting and weakness. In the most serious cases, such as that of the elderly Englishman, hypercalcemia may occur, which causes bone deformation, dehydration and acute kidney failure.
To avoid reaching these critical levels, doctors recommend consuming vitamin D supplements only when recommended by a healthcare professional and in accordance with the amounts stipulated by them.
Vitamin D is obtained mainly through exposure to sunlight, but it can also be supplemented. What is the ideal dose of supplementation?
The Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM) recommends controlling the use of supplements.
“For adults, maintenance doses vary between 400 and 2 thousand IU per week, depending on sun exposure and skin color. For the elderly, recommended doses range from 1,000 to 2,000 IU/day or 7,000 to 14,000 IU/week. Obese individuals, people who have poor absorption or are using anticonvulsants may need doses two to three times higher”, they establish.
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