PMQs: Boris Johnson urged to introduce vitamin D treatment
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
The NHS says if you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people. It adds: “Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful.” Nonetheless, your doctor has recommended you take a different amount of vitamin D, you should follow their advice. You cannot overdose on vitamin D through exposure to sunlight
Healthline explains that vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. In fact, this is one of its most important roles.
“However, if your vitamin D intake is excessive, your blood calcium may reach levels that can cause unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms,” the site adds.
It says the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are primarily related to hypercalcemia, “which means excessively high blood calcium levels”.
Symptoms of hypercalcemia include digestive distress, such as vomiting, nausea, constipation, and stomach pain fatigue, dizziness, hallucinations, and confusion loss of appetite excessive urination kidney stones, kidney injury, and even kidney failure high blood pressure and heart abnormalities and dehydration.
Healthline says Hypercalcemia typically develops after people take megadoses of vitamin D for a prolonged period of time.
The Cleveland Clinic says: “Do not take higher-than-recommended doses of vitamin D without first discussing it with your doctor.
“However, your doctor might recommend higher doses of vitamin D if he or she is checking your blood levels and adjusting your dose accordingly.
“Also, be cautious about getting large doses of vitamin A along with the D in some fish oils. Vitamin A can also reach toxic levels and can cause serious problems.”
DON’T MISS
Jayne Torvill health: Dancing On Ice star’s ‘traumatic’ ordeal [INSIGHT]
High cholesterol: Best milk to lower high cholesterol [TIPS]
Diabetes: The ‘traditional diabetic remedy’ [ADVICE]
Though you can have too much vitamin D, with more people staying indoors during the pandemic, some may have been deprived of vitamin D.
If you or someone you care for is in a higher risk group they may need to take vitamin D supplements.
You can take vitamin D supplements as tablets, liquid or a spray, and they can be bought in a pharmacy.
Dietary vitamin D is available in foods such as oily fish, cod liver oil, red meat, fortified cereals, fortified spreads and egg yolks.
The NHS says a lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.
The health body adds: “There have been some reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19).
“But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.”
Pregnant and lactating women are advised to take a daily dose of 10 micrograms of vitamin D3.
Vitamin D is often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin”, because your skin actually makes this essential nutrient naturally when the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hit cholesterol in the skin cells, providing the energy for vitamin D synthesis to occur.
According to the NHS, it won’t be long before you can put your vitamin D supplements away in preparation for the warmer days.
The health service states: “From about late March/early April to the end of September, the majority of people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight on their skin.”
If you are uncertain of whether or not you could be at risk of a vitamin D deficiency, it is always best to speak to your GP for advice.
Source: Read Full Article