A middle-aged man ended up in hospital after dangerous levels of vitamin D accumulated in his body, resulting in serious health complications. The patient lost 13 kilograms in a short period and faced a number of severe symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps in the legs, diarrhoea, ringing in the ears, as well as extreme thirst and dry mouth.
According to available information, the man was taking more than 20 different dietary supplements daily, which he had obtained without a medical prescription. One of these supplements was taken at the recommendation of a private nutritionist, after which the symptoms began to accumulate over several weeks. The initial diagnosis was an infection, but further tests did not confirm the expected signs of an inflammatory process.
Laboratory results showed high levels of vitamin D, alongside elevated levels of calcium and magnesium in the blood. The patient was found to have a kidney disorder, while other serious causes, including malignant diseases, were ruled out by additional examinations. Doctors administered treatment to lower the calcium levels in the blood, and the patient received intravenous fluids during his eight-day stay in hospital to flush the excess substance from his body.
Vitamin D is not excreted quickly from the body as a portion of it is stored, which explains the prolonged nature of the symptoms. Although his calcium levels returned to normal two months after leaving hospital, his vitamin D levels remained elevated. Experts warn that excessive intake of vitamin D can lead to hypervitaminosis D, and the elevated calcium levels can cause digestive issues, weakness, disturbances in heart rhythm, and kidney damage in the kidneys. High doses of vitamin D without appropriate monitoring can therefore lead to serious health consequences.
