Health Articles : Vitamins and Supplements : Vitamin D
Vitamin D : Vitamin D Toxicity
Vitamin D SupplementsVitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. Our body requires vitamin D in order to absorb adequate ..... The increase in vitamin content of the body is known as hyper vitaminosis d. As a poisoning agent vitamin d is regarded as the least poisonous substances ever known. How ever an over dosage may be the outcome of an increase in 100 times the daily required intake for at least two or three months. It may also account for an intake of more than 1000 micro grams or 40,000 International Units per day within 1 to 4 months in infants. In adults toxic effects may be observed by an intake of more than 2500 micro grams or 100,000 International Units per day for several months. Like any other alterations of vitamins or minerals this one is also very harmful and possibly can give rise to a large number of diseases and health hazards.
As all the food supplements does not contain excessive amounts of this vitamin till date no cases of vitamin toxicity has not been reported. However intakes ofexcessive amounts of cod liver oil over months or years could produce an overdose. Initially the symptoms may comprise of dehydration, Vomiting, Decreased appetite or anorexia, irritability, constipation and fatigue. However, if the conditions pertain for a prolonged period nausea, followed by polyuria, polydipsia, weakness, nervousness and pruritus may also be the outcome. Other possible factors may include high content of calcium in the blood which can cause severe damages to the bones, soft tissues, and kidneys. In other cases it is found to support the formation of kidney stones. Sometimes it is also been observed that vitamin d toxicity can trigger excessive absorption of calcium from the intestine and reabsorption of calcium from bone which may result in the deposition of calcium and phosphorus in soft tissues all over the body, with particular damage to the heart, blood vessels.
Treating the toxicity mainly involves in the reduction of the intake through its exclusion from the diet. Other major steps involved are discontinuing the vitamin, providing a low-calcium diet, keeping the urine acidic, and giving corticosteroids. However kidney damage or metastatic calcification of the kidney and the soft tissues of the body are almost irreversible and can be cured by naturally developing the immune system of the body.
What Does Vitamin D DoOne of the most important and major biological functions of vitamin d is to maintain .....
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