Vitamin D Overdose Treatment

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Vitamin D, the Sunshine Vitamin, performs the vital functions of regulating the calcium and phosphorus levels of the body, and protecting it against cancer, high blood pressure and a number of autoimmune diseases. An overdose of vitamin D, though uncommon, is very harmful for the human body, as it results in a number of complications such as hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the body) which poses a serious threat to kidney health, nerve damage, muscle damage and urinary stones.

One stands a chance of developing vitamin D toxicity mostly by consuming excess amounts of vitamin D supplements. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D for adults is about 600 IU/day – 50,000 IU/day (for special conditions). Vitamin D overdose is treated in several ways depending upon the individual requirements. Discontinuation of the vitamin consumption, loop diuretics, dietary restriction on calcium and phosphorus intake, usage of glucocorticoids, and intravenous saline hydration are some treatment options.

Treatment Options For Vitamin D Overdose

Stopping Vitamin D Intake

Persons on a vitamin D overdose should try to lower the levels of vitamin D in their bodies in several ways. First of all, they should not expose themselves to sunlight much, as sunlight aids in the production of vitamin D.

Next, they should avoid foods high in vitamin D such as fatty fish, beef liver, vitamin D fortified foods and cheese. These measures will stop the development of vitamin D toxicity further in the body.

Intravenous Hydration

Intravenous hydration with saline, biphosphonate and calcitonin is used for treating urinary salt wastage caused due to Hypercalcemia. The severity of hypercalcemia, the age of the patient and comorbidity are taken into consideration to determine the rate of the infusion.

Loop Diuretics

Loop diuretics are used to treat hypercalcemia caused by vitamin D overdose. Loop diuretics are drugs that help in intestinal calcium absorption, thereby alleviating the adverse effect of vitamin D toxicity.

These diuretics also inhibits the production of 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D ( popularly known as Calcitrol) which is an active form of vitamin D, and which can cause serious harm in persons suffering from an overdose of vitamin D.

Calcium And Phosphorus Restriction

Restricting the intake of foods rich in calcium and phosphorus is important for treating vitamin D overdose, as the body will already be stressed under hyper metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Milk, cheese, yogurt, soy bean, white bean are some foods that are rich in calcium.

Pumpkin seeds, Romano cheese, Salmon, scallops and Brazil nuts are some foods that are rich in phosphorus. The dietary intake of these foods should be restricted.

Glucocorticoids

Administration of glucocorticoids in patients suffering from Hypervitaminosis D reduces the production of calcitrol, the active form of vitamin D. Glucocorticoids also retard calcium re-absorption by the renal tubes. They are also found to reduce blood calcium levels and also reduce urinary calcium secretion levels.

The calcium balance of the body is regained on administration of glucocorticoids. The bone calcium mobilization was also seen to reduce with the administration of glucocorticoids.