Experts have warned about the dangers of excessive consumption of Vitamin D following the death of a British man due to severe complications related to taking high amounts of this supplement. David Michener, 89 years old, had been taking a Vitamin D product for at least 9 months prior to his hospitalization, where he was diagnosed with hypercalcemia, a condition characterized by the accumulation of calcium in the body due to elevated Vitamin D levels. This condition can lead to weakened bones and kidney and heart problems. Blood test results after his hospitalization revealed that his blood calcium levels were at maximum. Michener passed away 10 days after being admitted to the hospital. The coroner's report noted that hypercalcemia was a contributing factor to his death, along with congestive heart failure and chronic kidney failure.
Jonathan Stevens, the assistant coroner, reported that Michener "had been taking Vitamin D supplements for at least the previous nine months," adding that the packaging did not include any warnings about risks or side effects. The report cautioned that "supplements can have very serious risks and side effects when taken in excessive amounts."
Regarding the suitable dose of this vitamin, Peter Cohen, an assistant professor of medicine at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, recommends that healthy adults take 600 International Units (IU) daily. The required amount of Vitamin D in the daily diet can vary by age, according to Dr. Marian Amirshahi, an emergency medicine professor at Georgetown University, who spoke to Fox News. She advises small amounts (400 IU) during the first year of a child's life, and for children over one year old, teenagers, and adults, she recommends 600 IU. Older adults over 70 years old can take 800 IU. Cohen advises healthy individuals not to exceed 4,000 IU per day to avoid health problems.
Mayo Clinic states that Vitamin D is generally safe, but consuming more than 4,000 IU a day may lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation, irregular heartbeat, kidney stones, and kidney damage.
