▶ Recommended to take 15mg, 600 IU per day
▶ When the upper limit is exceeded, it causes depression, etc.
It has been found that overdose of vitamin D has rather serious side effects. According to a recent health magazine BMJ Case Report, a British man who took 150,000 IU of vitamin D a day had side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps in the legs. This was 375 times the recommended dose. The British National Institutes of Health generally recommends 400 IU of vitamin D per day for children and adults over 1 year of age. Vitamin D is stored in the body’s liver and fat cells until needed, and consumption in excess of the recommended daily amount can accumulate to toxic levels.
Vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning it is stored in the body, and high levels can be toxic. Without vitamin D, the body cannot absorb calcium. Vitamins also play an important role in immunity, brain cell activity, and muscle function.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 15 micrograms or 600 IU of vitamin D per day is recommended for adults up to age 69. For adults 70 years of age and older, the dose is increased to 20 micrograms or 800 IU daily.
Too much vitamin D in the blood causes hypercalcemia, which occurs when the calcium level in the blood is above normal. Hypercalcemia can weaken bones, create kidney stones, and interfere with the way the heart and brain work. Excessive intake of vitamin D can include drowsiness, confusion, lethargy, depression, and in more severe cases, fainting and coma. It can also affect the heart, raise blood pressure and cause the heart to start beating irregularly. In severe cases, it can lead to kidney failure and affect hearing and vision.
