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Signs & Symptoms of a Vitamin D Overdose

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning the body stores unneeded amounts for later, rather than removing the excess through urination. Eating foods with vitamin D is very unlikely to result in toxicity or overdose, but taking high doses of supplements for several months can cause problems.

  1. Hypercalcemia

    • When the body stores too much vitamin D, a surplus of calcium and phosphorous occurs. This causes deposits to form on kidneys, lungs and blood vessels. Elevated calcium is called hypercalcemia.

    Early Symptoms

    • Primary and initial hypercalcemia symptoms include lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

    Additional Signs

    • Additional signs of hypercalcemia can include confusion, diarrhea, excessive urination and unusual thirst, itching, nervousness and weakness. Heart arrhythmia can also occur.

    Kidney Stones

    • Use of both calcium and vitamin D supplements by postmenopausal women was linked to a 17 percent increase in the risk of kidney stones during a 7-year study cited by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

    Warning

    • Severe kidney problems can develop with vitamin D overdose, including calcifications, protein in the urine and insufficient kidney function that results in waste build-up in the body. Eventually, kidney failure can occur.

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