Too Much Vitamin D May Up Kidney Failure Risk

Too much vitamin D can damage your kidneys. So, watch out, spending too much time in the sun and grabbing high doses of vitamin D can lead to kidney failure.

Too much vitamin D is bad for your kidneys. A new study suggests that grabbing high doses of vitamin D can put you at a higher risk of kidney failure.

A 54-year-old man, after returning from a trip to Southeast Asia where he spent much of his holiday sunbathing, showed increased levels of creatinine, suggesting kidney damage or malfunction.

Chronic Renal Failure - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment, Prevention
Chronic renal failure or chronic kidney disease is progressive loss in kidney function. The change is irreversible and is due to loss of nephrons of the kidney.

‘Too much vitamin D can affect your kidneys. So, watch out, spending too much time in the sun and grabbing high doses of vitamin D can lead to kidney failure.’
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After referral to a kidney specialist and further testing, it was discovered that he had been prescribed high doses of vitamin D by a naturopath, who recommended a dose of 8 drops every day.

Over 2 ½ years, the patient, who did not have a history of bone loss or vitamin D deficiency, took 8-12 drops of vitamin D daily, totaling 8000-12 000 IU. As a result, he had very high levels of calcium in the blood, which left him with significant kidney damage.

"Although vitamin D toxicity is rare owing to a large therapeutic range, its widespread availability in various over-the-counter formulations may pose a substantial risk to uninformed patients," writes Dr. Bourne Auguste, a Clinical Fellow in Home Dialysis at Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto.

Vitamin D Deficiency - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Vitamin D the sunshine vitamin is essential for strong bones. Vitamin D deficiency is reportedly increasing worldwide and cause bone pain and muscle weakness.

The recommended daily allowance is 400-1000 IU, with 800-2000 IU recommended for adults at high risk of osteoporosis and for older adults.

"Our experience informs us that patients and clinicians should be better informed about the risks regarding the unfettered use of vitamin D. Given new findings from the US Preventive Services Task Force, current Canadian guidelines regarding its use in low-risk individuals should be revisited," the authors suggest.

Men are More Affected from Kidney Failure Than Women
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Source-Eurekalert

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