Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps build and maintain healthy bones and teeth. Without this our body cannot absorb calcium, which is the main component of bone. Vitamin D may also protect against cancer and diabetes. Our body synthesise vitamin D when sunlight reaches the skin.
Effects of excess vitamin D
Brittle bones and bone pain
When there is too much calcium circulating freely in the bloodstream, the body may not have enough hormones to bind the mineral to the bones effectively. Vitamin D toxicity can cause hypercalcemia and subsequent problems with the bones. Some symptoms include:
- Aching or painful bones
- Instability
- An increased rate of falling
- Severely stooped posture
- Joint pain
Dehydration
Elevated levels of calcium in the blood can harm the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. This can result in a person to produce and pass unusually large quantities of urine. which is called polyuria. These hormones encourage the kidneys to retain water and fewer hormones may result in large quantities of diluted urine. When a person passes a lot of diluted urine, it loses large quantities of water and electrolytes, for this reason a person with vitamin D toxicity may be prone to dehydration.
Symptoms of moderate dehydration include:
- Irritability
- Sunken eyes
- Increased thirst
- A dry mouth and tongue
Lung damage
When high levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood bind to form crystals, these deposit in soft tissues. The crystals are especially like to deposit in soft tissue organs that act as filters, such as the lungs. If many of these calcium salt deposits are present in the lungs, they can impair the organ’s function.
Some signs of resulting lung damage include:
- Coughing
- Trouble in breathing
- Chest pain
Kidney damage
Excess calcium in bloodstream can bind with phosphate and form crystals that deposit in soft body tissues. These crystals can cause vulnerable to calcium deposits because of its role as a filter. When calcium deposits get stuck in kidney tissues. if this condition is severe, it can cause permanent kidney damage and eventually, kidney failure.
Symptoms are:
- Vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Severe pain in the stomach
Stomach pain
Stomach pain, constipation and diarrhea are common digestive complaints that are often related to food intolerances. However, there can also be a sign of elevated calcium levels caused by vitamin D intoxication. These symptoms may occur in those who receiving high doses of vitamin D to correct deficiency.
Nausea, vomiting and poor Appetite
Many side effects of consuming too much vitamin D are related to excessive calcium in the blood. These include nausea, vomiting and poor appetite. However, these symptoms don’t occur in everyone with elevated calcium levels.
Above all, are the effects of excess vitamin D. We hope you learnt more about it, Don’t forget to share it.
