Vitamin D ‘overdose’ warning issued after man suffers months of vomiting and lands in hospital

A man who was taking vitamin D supplements far in excess of the daily requirements suffered serious health consequences for months.

In a case that highlights the dangers of overdosing on supplements, a middle-aged man was hospitalised in the UK after suffering from recurrent vomiting and other serious symptoms for three months.

Doctors are now warning the case was an example of hypervitaminosis D - the official term for a vitamin D overdose - a phenomenon that is on the rise due to the popularity of supplements.

Hypervitaminosis D can cause a buildup of calcium in the blood, which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness and frequent urination, according to the Mayo Clinic. The US medical centre also says vitamin D toxicity could cause bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.

Doctors have warned of the dangers of vitamin D overdosing in the journal BMJ Case Reports, after they treated the man in question.

The man was referred to hospital by his family doctor after suffering from a range of serious symptoms, which came a month after he began an intensive regime of vitamin supplements.

His symptoms, which lasted for three months, included recurrent vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, leg cramps, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), dry mouth, increased thirst, and diarrhoea.

He also lost 12.7kg in weight over this time.

The patient stopped taking his daily supplement cocktail once these symptoms developed, but they didn’t go away.

Blood tests ordered by his family doctor revealed that he had very high levels of calcium and slightly raised levels of magnesium. His vitamin D level was seven times over the level recommended.

He was also found to have acute kidney injury, and the organs weren’t working properly.

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