Is It Possible to Get Too Much Vitamin D?

Is It Possible to Get Too Much Vitamin D? Tampa FLVitamin D is essential for building and maintaining strong bones. It does so by helping your body absorb calcium, a key building block of bony tissue. In addition to promoting good bone health, vitamin D is important to your body in many other ways. For instance, your muscles need it to move, your nerves need it to transmit messages between your brain and the rest of your body, and your immune system needs it to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other harmful invaders that can make you sick. Furthermore, a vitamin D deficiency can lead to a number of other health issues, such as diabetes, depression, and dementia.

For all of these reasons, the results of a recent study may seem somewhat surprising: Researchers have found that too much vitamin D can actually do more harm than good. Specifically, excessive vitamin D intake can potentially slow your reaction time, which can affect your balance and coordination and significantly increase your risk of falling.

Strike a Balance

Here’s the takeaway: When it comes to vitamin D intake, it is important to strike an appropriate balance. For optimal health, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend a daily vitamin D intake of:

  • 400 international units (IU) for infants ages 0-12 months
  • 600 IU for children ages 1-18 years and adults ages 19-70, including pregnant and breastfeeding women
  • 800 IU for adults ages 71 and older

Make Sure You’re Getting the Right Amount

Your body synthesizes vitamin D whenever the sun’s ultraviolet (UVB) rays reach your skin. For most people – especially those who live in sunny Florida – sunlight is the main source of vitamin D. Additionally, a few foods, such as cheese, egg yolks, tuna, and salmon, are natural sources of this essential nutrient. Vitamin D-fortified foods and supplements are also readily available, and when used properly, both are safe and effective.

Whenever possible, you should aim to get the recommended daily vitamin D intake for your age group through safe sun exposure, a healthy diet, and an appropriate supplement, if necessary. If you have questions or need advice, the medical professionals at South Tampa Immediate Care can help. Contact us or visit our office at 602 Howard Avenue in Tampa, FL. Just walk in – we don’t require appointments!