Understanding Vitamin D and Calcium Overdose: Symptoms and Safe Supplement Practices
A user inquires about potential overdose symptoms from high Vitamin D and calcium intake, including constipation, increased heart rate, and thirst. The assistant provides insights into overdose risks and recommends consulting a healthcare professional while suggesting dosage adjustments and magnesium supplementation.
How do I know if I have a vitamin d and or calcium overdose ?
I take my vit d with k2. I do about 5k to 10k iu I live in Canada. I am not taking magnesium glycinate.
But I’ve been experiencing off and on constipation issues, resting heart rate is a little higher than normal. Also slight headache, and more thirstier than usual.
Anyone experienced something like this?
Help.
It's important to approach this situation with caution, as excessive intake of Vitamin D and calcium can lead to health issues. Here are some signs and implications of overdosing on these supplements:
Vitamin D Overdose
- Symptoms: Excessive Vitamin D can lead to hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood), which can result in symptoms like nausea, vomiting, weakness, frequent urination, and possibly kidney problems. The thirst and headache you're experiencing could be related to elevated calcium levels.
- Doses: The upper limit for daily Vitamin D intake is generally considered to be about 4,000 IU for adults. The amount you're taking (5,000 to 10,000 IU) is above this upper limit, which could increase the risk of overdose over time1.
Calcium Overdose
- Symptoms: High levels of calcium can cause digestive disturbances (like constipation), increased heart rate, confusion, and thirst.
- Interactions: Vitamin D increases calcium absorption, and without balancing minerals like magnesium, there can be imbalances affecting heart rate and bowel movements.
Recommendations
- Consult a Healthcare Professional: It's crucial to seek medical advice to evaluate your symptoms and possibly check your blood levels for calcium and Vitamin D.
- Monitor Dosage: Consider reducing your Vitamin D intake to within the recommended limits unless advised otherwise by a healthcare professional.
- Consider Magnesium: Magnesium plays a significant role in balancing calcium and could potentially alleviate some symptoms like constipation.
Addressing these symptoms with a medical professional will help ensure that any necessary adjustments to your supplement intake are made safely.
Footnotes