An 89-year-old retired businessman in the UK died due to the excessive intake of Vitamin D.
The deceased is identified as 89-year-old David Mitchener, a resident of Surrey, UK, who died of hypercalcemia. It is a condition that is caused due to elevated levels of Vitamin D. David’s test results revealed that his vitamin D levels were at a higher level, which is 380. He was taking Vitamin D supplements for at least nine months before his death.
The post-mortem reports of David showed that he died of hypercalcemia (Vitamin D toxicity) that led to his cardiac and kidney failure. His death raised concern over the over-intake of Vitamin D supplements and exhorted the health authorities to issue a notification on the absence of warnings on Vitamin D supplement packaging.
Jonathan Stevens, an assistant coroner in Surrey, has released a report exhorting regulatory agencies to alert consumers about these risks. The report said that vitamin supplements can have potentially very serious risks and side effects when taken in excess. He also called attention to current labeling requirements that do not instruct the risks and side effects to be cited on the packaging. The FSA and DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) assured to respond to the coroner concerning the report.
Vitamin D is also known as sunshine vitamin. According to the NHS, vitamin D aids in regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are required for the healthy maintenance of bones, teeth, and muscles. Vitamin D insufficiency causes bone deformations such as rickets in children and bone pain called osteomalacia in adults. Our body produces vitamin D from direct sunlight and it is also available in foods such as oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks, and fortified foods.
Children from the age of one year and adults require 10 mcg of Vitamin D a day and babies up to the age of one year require 8.5 to 10 mcg of Vitamin D a day.
Consumption of too many Vitamin D supplements over a longer period can cause too much calcium buildup in the body which leads to Vitamin D toxicity or hypercalcemia. This condition weakens the bones and damages the heart and kidneys. The symptoms of Vitamin D toxicity include high levels of calcium in the blood which causes nausea, vomiting, weakness, and confusion. It can also cause increased urination, dehydration, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, bone pain, kidney stones, and constipation.
A few measures have to be followed to prevent Vitamin D toxicity. Start taking Vitamin D supplements after getting a prescription from a doctor, do not overdose on Vitamin D supplements other than what the doctor recommends, and take regular blood tests to monitor the Vitamin D levels.
References:
1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Lavanya Beeraboina/MSM)
