What Is Considered Too Much Vitamin D ?

[strausserc]

My son is 15 and has been on a gluten-free diet for about 15 months at the reccomendation of our chiropractor after a bus load of symptoms that mimic Celiac Disease. After just 6 days all of his symptoms improved to the point that he wasn't willing to go off of the gluten-free diet and go back to the way he was feeling before the diet to be officially tested. So...he just continues on eating gluten-free. Blood work at that time showed that his Vitamin D level was low so he was put on 50,000 units of Vitamin D 3 times a week for 12 weeks. More blood work showed that it went up a bit but not like the Doctor thought thought it would taking that amount. This has continued for about a year and a half and he is now taking 50,000 units 2 times weekly at the suggestion of our Doctor. I have asked why his level is not going up and exactly WHERE is all of this Vitamin D going ? I know that too much isn't good either but have read conflicting info on exactly how much is too much. I am wondering if there is something else that they are missing. He is having trouble with his kidney's and bladder also that started around the same time he started taking these large supplements. It is making me very nervous...I am not sure what to do. Anyone have any experience with this ?

[pricklypear1971]

Try reading this thread.

[AVR1962]

Vitamin d is one of those vits that our body does not produce. We actually receive it from the sun thru our skin and that is the best source for our bodies. However, many of here have asked this same question as many of us suffer from lack of vit d. If the body is having trouble absorbing in the first place, we are only getting part of the nutritional benefits of anything we eat and any supplement we take but how much we are actually receiving is hard for us to know.

Concerns for too much d is organ failure and I understand why you would ask this question.

Personally what I have done is I have played with amounts to keep the symptoms away. Perhaps kind of not so good measurement as we store our vits like banks in our bodies so depending on the vit, you may not see the results of a decrease or increase for 7-10 days. I take 5000 IU daily plus whatever is in my multi vit. As an experiment when clouds rolled in and I found myself terribly fatigued again, I increased my d to 10,000 for one week. Can tell you I felt a whole lot better but was concerned about the amount so have cut back to what I was tkaing before and trying to find ways to get sunlight every day.

You could cut back and see if his symptoms come back, and try to get more sun. There are foods that you can eat as well. Of course lots of dairy items are fortified with d but also eating fish with bones like sardines is supposed to help.

[Skylark]

I think you need to get him followed by someone other than a chiropractor. You definitely need a second (and possibly third) opinion at the absolute minimum.

[heidi g.]

I agree with Skylark. That's also alot of vitamin D and if its bladder symptoms maybe its not absorbing through the intestines like it should and absorbing through the bladder instead. Or kidneys even.

[AVR1962]

Here's a foods list and some very good info about vit D: Open Original Shared Link

[Lori2]

I first had my vitamin D levels tested about four years ago because of my osteoporosis. They were quite low so I increased my supplementation for a year and retested. The levels had dropped. My PCP and nutritionist had no clue as to why they were lower. For the past three years I have supplemented with about 12,000 units a day with testing every six months. The levels did not rise significantly until I went gluten free. I have now backed off some on what I take and will retest in a few months. Everyone's body is different. You need to get your levels up but be sure to test.

[AVR1962]

I first had my vitamin D levels tested about four years ago because of my osteoporosis. They were quite low so I increased my supplementation for a year and retested. The levels had dropped. My PCP and nutritionist had no clue as to why they were lower. For the past three years I have supplemented with about 12,000 units a day with testing every six months. The levels did not rise significantly until I went gluten free. I have now backed off some on what I take and will retest in a few months. Everyone's body is different. You need to get your levels up but be sure to test.

Thanks for this reply. Could you tell the difference in your body from being so low compared to actually being able to absorb and backing off? Mine is very noticable for me. I get my bloodwork this next week and will talk to doc about it.

[Lori2]

Thanks for this reply. Could you tell the difference in your body from being so low compared to actually being able to absorb and backing off? Mine is very noticable for me. I get my bloodwork this next week and will talk to doc about it.

The increase was gradual over several years, so, no, I could not tell a difference.

[Reba32]

vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. If your son (or anyone for that matter) does not have an adequate intake of healthy fats in his diet, vitamin D cannot be metabolized properly, regardless of the dosage he takes.

The current government suggestions for a low fat high carb diet are all backwards, and leaves most people deficient in fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. If you turn the food pyramid upside down though, your body will be better able to metabolize these vitamins. Eat healthy sources of fats like avocados, fish, chicken with the skin on, pork with fat on it, beef with fat on it, seeds like flax seed, chia seeds, nuts, dairy, olives, olive oil, coconut, coconut oil etc etc etc...

Open Original Shared Link

[frieze]

My son is 15 and has been on a gluten-free diet for about 15 months at the reccomendation of our chiropractor after a bus load of symptoms that mimic Celiac Disease. After just 6 days all of his symptoms improved to the point that he wasn't willing to go off of the gluten-free diet and go back to the way he was feeling before the diet to be officially tested. So...he just continues on eating gluten-free. Blood work at that time showed that his Vitamin D level was low so he was put on 50,000 units of Vitamin D 3 times a week for 12 weeks. More blood work showed that it went up a bit but not like the Doctor thought thought it would taking that amount. This has continued for about a year and a half and he is now taking 50,000 units 2 times weekly at the suggestion of our Doctor. I have asked why his level is not going up and exactly WHERE is all of this Vitamin D going ? I know that too much isn't good either but have read conflicting info on exactly how much is too much. I am wondering if there is something else that they are missing. He is having trouble with his kidney's and bladder also that started around the same time he started taking these large supplements. It is making me very nervous...I am not sure what to do. Anyone have any experience with this ?

1) You are raising a smart son!

2) Is the Vit D that he is taking D2 or D3? If it is the little green footballs it is D2 and is not

the better choice.

3) Getting small amounts of SUN shine daily, is the optimum method of obtaining Vit D.

4) Good luck!

[shakemysoul]

I was also diagnosed by a chiropractor/nutrition specialist and he has me taking 10,000 iu a day of Vit D3. Healthy fats are definitely a must. I'm vegan, so this is usually avocado, olive oil, nuts, coconut oil etc. I cut down on my supplements on the days I can get at least an hour of sun with signifigant skin exposure (tank top and shorts) otherwise I keep it the same. I am going to talk to him about getting tested and possibly increasing his week because I have been very fatigued. Not sure if it is the cold cloudy weather or something else. Good luck!

[AVR1962]

vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. If your son (or anyone for that matter) does not have an adequate intake of healthy fats in his diet, vitamin D cannot be metabolized properly, regardless of the dosage he takes.

The current government suggestions for a low fat high carb diet are all backwards, and leaves most people deficient in fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. If you turn the food pyramid upside down though, your body will be better able to metabolize these vitamins. Eat healthy sources of fats like avocados, fish, chicken with the skin on, pork with fat on it, beef with fat on it, seeds like flax seed, chia seeds, nuts, dairy, olives, olive oil, coconut, coconut oil etc etc etc...

Open Original Shared Link

Thank you for this info, I found ir very helpful!

[Debbypete]

Be careful suggesting sunlight. Some people are very sensitive and can damage in as little as 10 min per day. Also for some reason, I think some people can not metabolise Vit D from the sun. Best to get a blood test done.

[frieze]

Be careful suggesting sunlight. Some people are very sensitive and can damage in as little as 10 min per day. Also for some reason, I think some people can not metabolise Vit D from the sun. Best to get a blood test done.

Since, in general, the human body is MADE to be touched by the sun......10 minutes causing damage would be rare...if you are talking photosensitivity caused by drugs we are on another subject. And I did specify SMALL amounts of sun.....

[Debbypete]

As I said, best to get a blood test done. Different parts of the world, different seasons, different strength of sunlight!

[Debbypete]

....and, thinking about it, I am sorry I bit back, though it did sound to me a bit attacking.

I had two of my vit D tabs the other day and was amazed at how much extra energy I had that day, will have to see if it is continued or just a fluke.

[AVR1962]

Be careful suggesting sunlight. Some people are very sensitive and can damage in as little as 10 min per day. Also for some reason, I think some people can not metabolise Vit D from the sun. Best to get a blood test done.

Very interesting.