Vitamin D, a water-soluble vitamin, often referred to as sunshine vitamin has a crucial role in maintaining the health and overall well-being of an individual. It helps to enhance bone health by improving calcium deposition and supports a healthy immune system by preventing dangerous disease-causing bacteria and foreign particles. However, the same benefits will lead to health problems if vitamin D increases.
According to various studies, excess vitamin D will lead to certain gastrointestinal issues including diarrhea. Although this may seem a small problem, the diarrhea caused by excess vitamin D can be problematic as it persists for longer periods. How can vitamin D cause diarrhea? Are there any possible measures that will help reduce this risk? Can you differentiate between normal diarrhea and that caused by excess vitamin D? There can be numerous doubts and concerns in you. This article will shed light on all these doubts and queries.
Understanding Vitamin D
- Role of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin required for the human body. Also known as calciferol, this variant of vitamin is found in certain foods and ultraviolet rays from the sun. vitamin D provides various health benefits for humans including strengthening bones and enhancing the immune system. According to several studies, vitamin D supports improved calcium absorption in the body.
As calcium and phosphorous are essential to maintaining healthy bones, this feature of vitamin D helps enhance bone health. Similarly, vitamin D promotes the production of peptides that have antiviral properties. This helps prevent the attack of foreign bodies resulting in improved immune functions. So, some studies also conclude that vitamin D has a connection with auto-immune disorders like type II diabetes, which may develop with vitamin D deficiency.
- Sources of Vitamin D
As mentioned, one of the major sources of vitamin D is sunlight. However, direct exposure to sunlight might lead to serious health conditions like skin cancer. So, nowadays people tend to avoid exposure to the sun. however, at times this leads to vitamin D deficiency. Apart from sunlight are there any other vitamin D sources? How can you maintain optimal levels of vitamins in your body? As some of you might know sunlight is not the only source of vitamin D. It is also found in certain food items including:
- Fatty fish
- Herring and sardines
- Cod liver oil
- Canned tuna
- Egg yolks
- Mushrooms
- Vitamin D-fortified foods like cow’s milk, soy milk, orange juice, cereal, and oatmeal
Can Vitamin D Cause Diarrhea?
- Possible Mechanisms
As you all know Vitamin D is an essential element for the human body. As mentioned, it has several health benefits. However, like anything else, excess vitamin D can also lead to acute to chronic health problems. The same component that enhances immunity can be a reason for several immune disorders if used in excess. One such problem is diarrhea.
It is proven that vitamin D will improve calcium levels in the body. However, as the amount of this vitamin increases, it will lead to calcium buildup in the body, resulting in a situation called hypercalcemia. This condition mainly affects the digestive system causing diarrhea and other digestive problems. Although diarrhea is a common problem that most people experience, it can be more problematic in this situation.
- Dosage-Related Effects
According to studies, the ideal vitamin D dosage required for all people above the age of 1 is 10 micrograms daily. This amount is uniform in babies, infants, and adults. However, babies below 1 year require 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day. So, taking vitamin D above this prescribed amount for a long period can cause serious health problems.
According to NHS, taking vitamin D supplementation above 10 micrograms and vitamin D above 100 micrograms a day will lead to severe problems in adults including pregnant and breastfeeding women and children between the age of 11 and 17. When it comes to children aged 1 to 10 years, exceeding 50 micrograms and in infants exceeding 25 micrograms are harmful. These will lead to gastrointestinal problems including diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, and nausea.
- Individual Sensitivities
Although 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplementation is considered safe, some people are more sensitive to it than others. This can be due to certain medical conditions or medication interactions. Some such people include:
- People identified with granulomatous disorders, hypercalcemia, Crohn’s disease, or kidney disease.
- People taking anti-inflammatory, antiretroviral, or antiepileptic drugs.
- People identified with obesity.
- People taking prescription-strength vitamin D.
Symptoms of Diarrhea Related to Vitamin D Intake
- Identifying Symptoms
As mentioned, diarrhea is a possible symptom caused by excess amounts of vitamin D. Such diarrhea will be accompanied by other symptoms including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Poor appetite
- Excessive thirst
- Constipation
- Weight loss
Some gastrointestinal problems including abdominal pain, peptic ulcers, and pancreatitis can also be accompanied by diarrhea caused by excess vitamin D.
- Differentiating Causes
Several symptoms denote the possibility of diarrhea. Some of them include:
- Watery stools
- Bloating
- Stomach cramps or pain
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Blood in stool
- Dehydration
Most of these symptoms match with the symptoms of diarrhea caused by excess vitamin D. So, how can you differentiate between the two? The main difference between normal diarrhea and diarrhea caused by excess vitamin D is the number of affected days. Normally, an acute diarrhea will last only for 1-2 days. However, diarrhea caused by excess vitamin D will last for several weeks. Moreover, with each passing day, several new symptoms including excessive thirst and weight loss will accompany it.
How To Manage and Prevent Diarrhea Due to Vitamin D?
- Adjusting Dosage
Following the standard amounts of vitamin D prescribed by the NHS or by your healthcare provider is essential to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. The main treatment to reduce vitamin D toxicity is lowering the vitamin D intake to reduce the excess calcium in the body.
To achieve this, your healthcare provider may ask to stop the intake of all vitamin D supplementations. Using IV fluids to treat dehydration and prescribing corticosteroids, and bisphosphonates are the other measures to adjust the vitamin D dosage and prevent the body from further problems and diseases.
- Choosing the Right Supplement
Dietary supplements are a lifesaver for several people. It helps them stay healthy and reduce the chances of certain diseases while following a busy lifestyle. However, selecting good and clean supplements is tricky these days.
Several studies suggest that the number of people getting trapped by using ineffective supplements is increasing each day. So, considering some things while buying a vitamin D supplement will be beneficial. Some important things to remember to get high-quality vitamin D supplements are:
- Research the availability of essential certifications including GMP, third-party lab tests, and heavy metal testing. These certifications analyze the quality of the supplement as well as its manufacturing facilities.
- Check the ingredients and their effects on your body. Ensure that most of the ingredients used in manufacturing the supplement are bioavailable, natural, and safe. Furthermore, consult your doctor and ensure that the ingredients will not cause you any reactions or allergies.
- Conduct a thorough analysis of the additional ingredients used in the supplement. According to factory standards, a supplement should not have more than 3-4 other ingredients besides the main nutrient offered by the supplement. Ensure that the other ingredients are minimal and safe for use.
- Monitoring and Testing
Even if you are using high-quality vitamin D supplements as prescribed by your healthcare provider, monitoring and maintaining regular track of them and your health is essential. There are possibilities of changes in the levels of vitamin D, including deficiency and excess even while using supplementation.
Under such situations, the risks of health conditions including weakened bones, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers increase. In some cases, the deficiency or excess of vitamin D will not cause any symptoms, especially in elderly persons. In such cases, the risks are high. So, constant analysis and monitoring of vitamin D levels are crucial for overall health and well-being.
Final Thoughts
As discussed in this article, vitamin D, a water-soluble fat, is essential for the overall well-being of an individual. It has an important role in strengthening bones and enhancing the immune system by preventing the attack of harmful foreign substances. Although abundantly found in the sun’s ultraviolet rays, people often lack vitamin D for various reasons.
In some cases, being in the sun will be difficult due to the climate, whereas in other instances the sunscreen preventing cancerous rays will also prevent vitamin D. However, vitamin D can also be obtained from different foods including egg yolks, fatty fishes, and mushrooms. Nowadays, people also use vitamin D-fortified foods like orange juice and milk.
While people often speak about the problems created by vitamin D deficiency, the diseases that arise from excess vitamin D are overlooked. Vitamin D toxicity can lead to hypercalcemia and other problems causing diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. While normal diarrhea lasts for 2-4 days, diarrhea caused by excess vitamin D will persist for longer days causing vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and sometimes peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.
These issues can be prevented by consulting a healthcare provider. Sometimes, your doctor may suggest stopping all vitamin D supplementations to control vitamin D levels. Treatment options like IV fluids, corticosteroids, and bisphosphonates will also be used. However, using high-quality vitamin D supplements and conducting frequent consultations and monitoring is crucial to maintain overall health.
