An unnamed middle-aged patient in England lost about 12 pounds in three months. The man was constantly vomiting, diarrhoea, and experiencing stomach pain. So much so that the doctors initially thought the patient had cancer. However, it turned out that the patient consumed a toxic amount of vitamin D. Doctors who saw the case warn citizens about excessive consumption of vitamin D.
A middle-aged man in England has lost 12kg in 3 months due to persistent vomiting, stomach pain, leg cramps and diarrhea. It turned out that the hospitalized man had overdosed on over-the-counter vitamin D supplements. The patient's complaints started to emerge 1 month after he started taking vitamin D supplements. In the tests performed on the patient, who was initially thought to have cancer, it was revealed that his vitamin D level was 7 times normal and he suffered from acute kidney damage. The patient also suffered from tinnitus, dry mouth and unquenchable thirst.
The man, who was in the hospital for more than a week, consumed medicine and fluids to get rid of the supplements in his body. Doctors warn that vitamin D supplements, which are largely safe, have toxic effects.
Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium in the body while keeping bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
CAUSES EXCESSIVE CALCIUM ACCUMULATION
Experts recommend taking vitamin D supplements in the fall and winter months. However, taking too much vitamin D causes excessive calcium accumulation in the body and overworks the kidney. Because the kidney is trying to filter this calcium. It is recommended that adults and children over the age of one take no more than 600 IU of vitamin D per day.
The patient in the news received a dose of 50,000 IU of vitamin D, which is 83 times the recommended daily amount. The patient is now embarked on an intensive vitamin supplementation program by the dedicated nutritionist.
Two months after hospital discharge, her calcium level returned to normal, but her vitamin D levels remained abnormally high.
The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is calcium buildup in the blood, known medically as hypercalcemia, which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Vitamin D toxicity can progress to bone pain and kidney problems such as the formation of calcium stones.