How to avoid a risk of vitamin D overdose

Vitamin D is essential for the growth of children and in some cases, when a deficiency is suspected or at certain times of the year, specific products are used to supplement it. However, from France comes the warning to pay particular attention: the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) reports the risks of a possible overdose caused by the wrong use of food supplements.

It is not the first time that ANSM recommends paying particular attention to vitamin D food supplements , especially if they are intended for children or babies. In recent days, the French agency has returned to the subject, recalling that taking do-it-yourself supplements, perhaps combining several products together and without first consulting a doctor, is risky and exposes children to a possible overdose, with potentially serious consequences.

As experts point out, under the action of vitamin D, the assimilated calcium can reach too high blood levels, to the point of compromising the normal functioning of the kidneys. Read also: Don’t overdo the vitamin D! Excess can create intoxication

In 2020, ANSM reports, two serious cases of poisoning were reported following the use of a supplement purchased on the internet, each drop of which contained 10,000 IU (international unit, or 0.025 micrograms) of vitamin D (the daily dose recommended for children without health problems is 400 IU, a big difference!).

We must therefore pay great attention and be aware of the risks, considering that vitamin D is fat-soluble and therefore tends to accumulate (unlike water-soluble vitamins such as C that the body can excrete if in excess).

How to avoid a risk of vitamin D overdose

ANSM, in collaboration with pediatric scientific societies, the national college of midwives, poison centers and ANSES, is alerting all health professionals but also parents of the risk of overdose associated with the administration of food supplements with vitamin D in children, especially infants.

Specifically, we recommend:

• favoring drugs over food supplements
• check the doses given ( check the amount of vitamin D per drop)
• do not multiply products containing vitamin D

The last point points out an important problem to consider: on the market there are a large number of products that have different concentrations of vitamin D. Using them together, of course, exposes even more to the risk of overdose.

The ANSM actually recommends supplementing vitamin D with medically authorized drugs (AMM). Drugs that, unlike many food supplements, are equipped with indications and schemes to establish correct daily use.