A middle-aged man in the UK had to be hospitalised after he overdosed on vitamin D supplements.
According to a report, the man took more than 80 times the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, along with 19 other supplements, allegedly on the advice of a private nutritionist. A month after taking an excess amount of the supplement, he started experiencing symptoms like tummy pain, vomiting, leg cramps, dry mouth, increased thirst, diarrhoea and ringing in his ears. These symptoms didn’t go away even after he stopped taking the supplements.
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On taking blood tests, it was revealed that the man’s vitamin D levels were seven times the recommended amount. His calcium levels were also high and his kidneys were at risk of damage, said the blood test reports.
Excess of Vitamin D and calcium in body
Doctors, in a report published by BMJ Case Reports on Tuesday (July 5), said an excessive amount of vitamin D in the body can affect one’s ability to go on with one’s day-to-day activities.
The vitamin, obtained naturally from sunlight and foods such as oily fish and mushroom, can become toxic for the body if taken in large amounts. An excess of vitamin D in the body can result in high levels of calcium. This can then result in drowsiness, psychosis and coma.
Since the body takes about two weeks to get rid of half the original amount of vitamin D taken in, symptoms can last for weeks.
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The treatment
The man, during his eight-day stay in the hospital, was re-hydrated with fluids through the help of a drip. He was also given drugs that stop bone breakdown, called bisphosphonates. This helped reduce his calcium levels. He was later discharged from the hospital with bisphosphonates and anti-sickness medicines.
Two months after his discharge, another blood test revealed that his calcium levels were within the normal range, but his vitamin D levels remained high.
Doctors say it’s safe to take supplements in a controlled manner. An excess of any supplement can be dangerous for the body.
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