High dosing vitamin D: What you need to know

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? Anyone who has stared down an entire chocolate cake can attest that yes, there is. Despite levels of 5,000 IU and even 10,000 IU of vitamin D being readily available with the click of a button, The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) recommends no adult should exceed 4,000 IU a day[1] or else they put themselves at risk of serious health complications.

“Many people are taking too much vitamin D.” Dr. Joann Manson of The Brigham and Woman’s Hospital is working on a study of 25,000 participants to check their vitamin D blood levels.[2]

The American Academy of Dermatology agrees. Dr. Weinstock of Brown University commented at the annual meeting that “there is an increased risk of falls and fractures associated with vitamin D ‘mega dosing’.”[3]

What is considered too high or too low?

“You shouldn’t bypass the satiety level. Your stomach is only so big for a reason,” said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist. Dr. Offit offers a good rule of thumb: there are 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C in one tablet. That’s the equivalent of eight cantaloupes. Would you eat eight cantaloupes a day? If you answered no, then you shouldn’t take that high a dose. “It goes against what nature intends.”

At the end of the day, we all want to be the healthiest we can possibly be. Supplements and vitamins can be a great tool to get there, we just need to be mindful of how much is too much. Consider the recommendations, understand how much is too much to self-prescribe, and consult your doctor if you think you need more.