Vitamin D Overdose: Can You Take Too Much Vitamin D?

author avatar Dr. Eric Berg 08/31/2023

Vitamin D is crucial for a healthy body. It supports strong bones, normal blood calcium levels, and a healthy immune system. 


Vitamin D deficiency is widespread, and vitamin D supplementation is an effective and easy way to support healthy vitamin D levels. However, fat-soluble vitamin D accumulates in the body, and taking too much vitamin D can increase the risk of hypercalcemia and kidney disease.


Discover how much vitamin D is too much and how you can benefit from vitamin D supplements without the risk of vitamin D toxicity. 

Vitamin D illustration

Why take vitamin D supplements


Vitamin D is produced in the skin when sun exposure triggers a chemical reaction that converts previtamin D3 to vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is then transported to the kidneys and liver, where it’s turned into active vitamin D.


The amount of vitamin D your body can produce depends on factors such as sunlight exposure, age, skin tone, body weight, and geographical location. 


Small amounts of vitamin D can be found in some foods, including fatty fish, egg yolks, and organ meats. However, dietary sources are unlikely to provide enough vitamin D to maintain healthy blood levels.


Vitamin D is essential for skeletal health—it promotes the intestinal absorption of dietary calcium needed for healthy bones and teeth. It’s also crucial for a strong immune system and has been found to lower the risk of colon, prostate, and skin cancers.  


It’s estimated that more than 40 percent of U.S. adults are vitamin D deficient or at risk of vitamin D insufficiency.


Common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are:

  • Brittle bones 

  • Weakened immune system

  • Sleep disorders 

  • Fatigue 

  • Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression 


Vitamin D supplements are convenient and effective in supporting healthy vitamin D levels. 


Watch the video below to discover how you can maintain healthy vitamin D levels without the risk of toxicity. 


Is vitamin D dangerous? 


Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s stored in fat cells. It isn’t excreted like water-soluble vitamins, and large doses of supplementation can cause excessive vitamin D accumulation in the body, resulting in toxicity. 


Vitamin D increases the intestinal absorption of dietary calcium, and high doses of vitamin D can lead to elevated serum calcium levels, increasing the risk of kidney damage and soft tissue calcification. 


To avoid the risk of excessive calcium absorption, always take vitamin D in combination with vitamin K2


Vitamin K2 is another fat-soluble vitamin that transports calcium from the blood into bone tissue, which supports healthy bones and lowers the risk of elevated blood calcium and associated health risks.



How much vitamin D3 is too much?


How much vitamin D you need and how much is too much depends on a range of factors, including your actual vitamin D status, age, average exposure to sunlight, and geographical location. 


The National Institute of Health recommends 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily. However, a significantly higher dosage may be needed if you are vitamin D deficient or have little sunlight exposure. 


Short-term doses of up to 10,000 IU daily may be necessary to correct vitamin D deficiency, and evidence suggests that taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily wasn’t linked to an increased risk of elevated calcium levels or kidney damage.


Regularly checking serum vitamin D levels is the most reliable way to determine vitamin D requirements and ensure healthy vitamin D levels without the risk of toxicity.

Vitamin D supplement

How do you know if you’ve had too much vitamin D?


Vitamin D toxicity is relatively rare and only related to excessive amounts of vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D metabolism is a tightly controlled process, and there isn’t any risk of an overdose due to sun exposure or from dietary sources of vitamin D.  


Because of vitamin D’s role in calcium absorption, taking large doses of vitamin D supplements can lead to elevated blood calcium levels, also known as hypercalcemia. While calcium is essential for many physiological functions, hypercalcemia can have serious consequences. 


Research suggests that prolonged periods of excessive blood calcium levels can cause kidney damage and gastrointestinal issues and interfere with normal heart functioning. Severe cases of hypercalcemia have been found to increase the risk of kidney failure and pancreatic cancer.     


Here are common symptoms of vitamin D toxicity: 


  1. Vomiting 

  2. Weakness

  3. Fatigue 

  4. Stomach pains 

  5. Kidney stones 

  6. Frequent urination 

  7. Heart arrhythmia 

  8. Confusion

  9. Depression 



What to do if you take too much vitamin D


If you suspect you may have taken too much vitamin D, it’s best to consult your doctor. A blood test to assess vitamin D status and calcium levels is generally the first step in determining if vitamin D toxicity is present. 


Limiting sunlight exposure, restricting dietary calcium intake, and avoiding nutritional supplements containing vitamin D are typical recommendations to correct vitamin D toxicity. In more severe cases, intravenous medication may be necessary to reduce elevated blood calcium levels and protect organs and tissues from calcification.


A number of follow-up blood tests may be necessary to ascertain if vitamin D levels are back in a normal range.

woman taking supplements

Key takeaways


Vitamin D supplementation is a great way to support healthy vitamin D levels. However, taking excessive amounts of vitamin D can lead to hypercalcemia which significantly increases the risk of kidney damage and calcification of blood vessels and may interfere with normal heart and brain function.


It’s recommended to always combine vitamin D with vitamin K2 supplementation to maintain healthy calcium levels. In addition, regular blood checks help to determine the correct vitamin D dose for you and lower the risk of a potential vitamin D overdose and toxicity.  



FAQ


1. How much vitamin D can I safely have each day?

The most suitable daily dose of vitamin D for you depends on many factors, including your vitamin D status, sunlight exposure, skin tone, and geographical location. General recommendations suggest a recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 600 IU of vitamin D. 


However, significantly higher dosages can be taken for short periods, and research found that daily intake of up to 10,000 IU of vitamin D didn’t cause toxicity. 


2. How much vitamin D is too much?

Vitamin D intake above 10,000 IU per day may increase the risk of vitamin D toxicity in some individuals, and it’s best to perform regular blood tests to confirm your vitamin D status if you take large doses daily.  


3. Can you overdose on vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in fat cells. Because excessive vitamin D isn’t excreted, large doses of vitamin D supplementation can result in a vitamin D overdose and toxicity.   


4. What are the symptoms of a vitamin D overdose?

High-dose vitamin D supplementation can cause elevated levels of blood calcium which is linked to gastrointestinal issues, nausea, excessive thirst, confusion, and fatigue. Excessive calcium levels may interfere with normal brain and heart function and increase the risk of kidney damage and the calcification of blood vessels. 


5. What is vitamin D toxicity?

Vitamin D toxicity, also referred to as hypervitaminosis D, results from taking extremely high doses of vitamin D for a prolonged period. Vitamin D toxicity is rare and only occurs due to excessive supplement intake, not from dietary intake or sun exposure.  


6. Is 10,000 IU of vitamin D too much?

Taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily is generally considered safe. However, it’s best to regularly check your vitamin D status to ensure that vitamin D levels are in healthy ranges and you are not at risk of vitamin D toxicity. 

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