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Oral vitamin D supplementation: dangerous overdoses caused by errors

 Adverse Effects  Vitamin D overdose exposes patients to the risk of hypercalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia, and their sometimes serious or even fatal adverse effects, including: thirst, polyuria, anorexia, constipation, muscle weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, confusion and renal disorders.
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Excessive oral intake of vitamin D can provoke hypervitaminosis D, and the sometimes serious or even fatal clinical consequences of hypercalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia: thirst, polyuria, anorexia, constipation, muscle weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and confusion. It can take a long time for levels to normalise. Vitamin D is fat-soluble and accumulates in the liver, muscles and adipose tissue. The major circulating form of vitamin D has an elimination half-life of about 2 to 3 weeks. Chronic hypercalcaemia leads to calcium deposition throughout the body, especially in the blood vessels and kidneys, leading in turn to renal failure, renal disorders, interstitial nephritis or calcium stones. In addition, chronic vitamin D intoxication promotes the release of calcium from bone, leading to bone demineralisation and pain. Vitamin D intoxication also exposes patients to the harms of any treatments used to correct the hypercalcaemia and its consequences…

©Prescrire 1 March 2023

Source: "Oral vitamin D supplementation: dangerous overdoses caused by errors" Prescrire International 2023; 32 (246): 75-77. Subscribers only.

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