by Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer | May 07, 2015
As more Americans take vitamin
D supplements, there has been concern that more people could experience toxic effects from very high vitamin D levels. But a new study shows that people rarely experience harmful side effects when taking large amounts of vitamin D.
D supplements, there has been concern that more people could experience toxic effects from very high vitamin D levels. But a new study shows that people rarely experience harmful side effects when taking large amounts of vitamin D. |
| Vitamin D Pills |
Researchers analyzed information from more than 20,000 vitamin D blood tests performed on people living in Rochester, Minnesota, and the surrounding area over a 10-year period. They looked to see how many people had "high" vitamin D levels, defined as levels over 50 nanograms per milliliter. (Normalvitamin D levels are between 20 and 50 ng/mL.)
About 8 percent of the people had vitamin D levels over 50 ng/mL, but 0.6 percent had even higher levels, over 80 ng/mL, and 0.2 percent had levels over 100 ng/mL. The researchers also found that the proportion of people with high vitamin D levels increased considerably during the study period — from 9 per 100,000 people in 2002 to 233 per 100,000 people in 2011. This spike is likely due to an increase in people taking vitamin D supplements, either because a doctor prescribed them or because they decided on their own to take them, the researchers said.
Despite this increase, the people in the study rarely experienced hypercalcemia, or high blood calcium levels that can occur as a result of high vitamin D levels. The condition can cause weakness, vomiting and kidney problems, and is the main side effect of high vitamin D levels.
of high vitamin D levels.
In fact, there was no link between people's vitamin D levels and their blood calcium levels. [9 Good Sources of Disease-Fighter Vitamin D]
levels. [9 Good Sources of Disease-Fighter Vitamin D]
"We found that, even in those with high levels of vitamin D over 50 ng/mL, there was not an increased risk of hypercalcemia, or elevated serum calcium, with increasing levels of vitamin D," study co-author Dr. Thomas D. Thacher, a family medicine expert at Mayo Clinic, said in a statement. more
expert at Mayo Clinic, said in a statement. more
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