Vitamin D Toxicity

Excerpt

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin found in various animal products and fortified foods and is also made endogenously in the human body. Vitamin D is also available as both a prescription and over-the-counter supplement. Vitamin D is important for bone health, and deficiency can lead to the development of rickets and osteopenia. More recently, it has been determined that vitamin D also plays an important role in various metabolic processes. It also has been linked to autoimmune disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, dementia, infectious diseases, and musculoskeletal decline. Vitamin D deficiency has become less of a problem with the availability of supplements and fortified foods.

Hypervitaminosis D is rare and usually caused by excessive doses of vitamin D due to misuse of over-the-counter supplements or erroneous prescriptions. Less commonly, poisoning from exposure to rodenticides containing cholecalciferol can also lead to vitamin D toxicity. Toxicity leads to hypercalcemia and an imbalance in the regulation of bone metabolism with resultant hypercalcemia and its associated signs and symptoms.