Vitamin D Overdose Risk Low with common Supplementation, Expert says
New York, NY – Concerns about vitamin Dโข toxicity are largely unfounded โfor individuals takingโ doses up to โ8,000 International Units (IU) daily, according to a recent column by Dr. โRoach, a physician at Cornell University.the clarification comes as awareness of vitamin D deficiency fluctuates, and highlights the potential dangers of medication errors.
Dr. Roach emphasized that toxicity is “almost unheard of” at 4,000 IU daily, โขand even doses reaching 5,000 or โฃ8,000 IU are “very unlikely toโฃ cause excess.” However, he cautioned against substantially higher,โข prescribed dosages being takenโ incorrectly.He noted โฃa scenario where a patient prescribed 50,000 IU weekly mistakenly takes that amount daily, whichโข can lead to toxicity.
The discussion around vitamin D supplementation comes โamidst a shift in medical practise. screening and treatment for deficiency have become less โฃfrequentโค following a large study demonstrating limited benefits from treatment. Despite this, Dr. Roach stressed that identifying andโฃ addressing deficiency remains appropriate for specific high-risk groups.
These groups include older adults with limited sun exposure,individuals with impaired calcium absorption (particularly those with aโ history of bariatric surgery,inflammatory bowel disease,or celiac disease),people with darker skin pigmentation,and those who consistentlyโ wear sun-protective clothing. Certain medications, specifically those โฃusedโ to treat epilepsy, can also increase vitamin D metabolism, perhaps necessitating supplementation.
Dr. Roach recommends obtaining blood levels before starting โขvitamin โฃDโข supplementation to ensure optimal levels are โachieved during treatment.
In a separate portion of the column,Dr. Roach addressed patient discomfort during cystoscopies. โข He expressed frustrationโข with inadequate pain management during procedures โฃlike cystoscopies, IUD โขinsertions, endometrial biopsies, and prostate โขbiopsies. โขHe noted that while some โขpatients tolerate these procedures well,others experience importent pain. he advised patients to advocate for better pain โrelief, suggesting that 15-20 minutes might potentially be needed for local anesthetic to take effect during a cystoscopy, and that simply allowing the patient to watch the procedure can reduce anxiety and pain. Other options, such as nitrous oxide, nerve blocks, or alternative local anesthetics, may alsoโ be considered.
Readers may email questions to โฃToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.