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Say 'D' for Disaster: Unpacking the Perils of Vitamin D Overdose

fitness

By Maxwell H.

- Oct 31, 2024

Congratulations, you've been lured into the vitamin D craze - summer rays in a bottle, right? Not so fast, slick. Consuming too much of this sunny supplement can land you with a generous serving of vitamin D toxicity-rare but as welcome as a burpee challenge after last night's cheat meal.

"A vitamin D overdose? You've got to be shiitake-ing me," you gasp. Well, that excess vitamin D takes a joyride in your bloodstream, hyping up the calcium levels and leading to a case of hypercalcemia. This isn't an all-expenses-paid vacation to a tropical paradise - think more along the lines of digestion fiascos, fatigue, confusion, bone pain, and a nice wrapping of high blood pressure.

While we all know Uncle Sam takes his sweet time regulating supplements - looking at you, FDA - this doesn't mean you should be thrifty with your vitamin prep. Opt for third-party tested vitamin D products, and for god’s sake, have a chat with a healthcare provider before altering your routine.

Overserving yourself with vitamin D might not cause an instant issue. But long-term indulgence or a binge session can turn your body into a hospitality suite for hypercalcemia. Symptoms can range from mild to more 'Oh dear Lord, what have I done?'

Be warned powers-users, that 20,000 to 50,000 international unit dosing isn't your green flag for a supplement party. It’s the highest prescribed dose and designed strictly for folk whose bodies don't process vitamin D, thanks to health conditions like asthma or tuberculosis. It’s not a cute trend - think of it as a survival tactic for the deficiency-hit.

Rather than ramble about side effects and rare problems with vitamin D, let’s keep it real: if you're swimming in D and feel like garbage-tell your healthcare provider. They’ll measure up your vitamin D along with other pertinent triumvirate of health markers: calcium and phosphorus.

Too much of anything can spell trouble, pals. A continuous vitamin D party can lead to an altered mental state or even kidney failure. And when there's a kidney casualty, you best believe a cascade of unfortunate events will follow, including water loss, blood vessel constriction, and decreased kidney function.

Overdoing the vitamin D and need out? Sorry to burst your bubble, there's no quick escape. However, halting the vitamin D and calcium supplement intake is a start. And let’s not forget the golden rule, folks: a high-dose supplement spree without your healthcare provider's go-ahead is as smart as doing deadlifts with a slinky.

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