The Truth About Vitamin D Injections: Is It Worth the Risk?

2024-01-11 13:00:00

life

The ‘vitamin D injection’ that is always promoted when you go to a local hospital… Is it worth it?

Reporter Lee Hae-rim

Photo = Clip Art Korea If you go to a local hospital or clinic, you can see signs promoting ‘vitamin D injections’ regardless of the department. It usually costs 30,000 to 50,000 won per injection. Would it be okay to get hit once?

According to the Korean Medical Association, 96.8% of Korean men and 93.9% of Korean women suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is usually synthesized in the body when exposed to sunlight, but most Koreans spend time indoors. Vitamin D levels are generally considered appropriate at a level of 20 to 50 μg/mL, and a level of 12 μg/mL or less is assessed as deficiency.

However, there is no need to take high-dose vitamin D injections if you are deficient in vitamin D. The vitamin D content of vitamin D injection preparations is at least 100 times that of oral preparations (nutritional supplements). The vitamin D content of oral preparations is 1,000 to 5,000 IU, while the content of injectable preparations is 100,000 to 300,000 IU. One 5mL ampoule used for injection contains an average of 200,000 IU of vitamin D.

However, there is a risk of various side effects if high doses of vitamin D are administered at once. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the body, so if vitamin D levels in the body become too high, hypercalcemia may occur. Hypercalcemia is a condition in which the blood calcium concentration is more than 10.5 mg/dL or ionized calcium is more than 4.2 mg/dL. Not only do symptoms such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, muscle pain, and fatigue appear, but kidney stones may also form.

If there is too much vitamin D in the body, there is a risk of permanent kidney damage. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so it can accumulate in the body if consumed in excess of the required amount. Patients who already have hypercalcemia, suffer from parathyroid dysfunction or kidney disease, or are taking multiple medications should be more careful when administering vitamin D.

People who find it difficult to take oral vitamin D due to absorption or digestive problems may consider injections. However, people who do not have any special health problems can resolve vitamin D deficiency simply by taking vitamin D oral supplements (nutritional supplements) or by being exposed to sunlight. However, you should avoid sun exposure without applying sunscreen. Even sunscreens as low as SPF 8 block vitamin D synthesis in the body by up to 95%.

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