Vitamin D increases the amount of calcium absorbed from the small intestine and
plays a role in the body’s metabolism of calcium and phosphorous in the immune
system and the regulation of cellular growth. Especially for children, adequate
amounts are essential to the healthy formation and maintenance of teeth and bone.
Vitamin D and calcium are among the few supplements that may be helpful for
some Americans. For most people, only 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine 2-3 times
weekly on hands, face, and arms (without sunscreen) is needed for the skin to respond
to the ultraviolet B in sunlight and synthesize enough vitamin D to meet the
body’s requirements. Many foods, including milk, milk alternatives such as soy or
almond milk, orange juice, and breakfast cereal, are fortified with vitamin D. Other sources are of animal origin, especially oily fish, for example, herring, salmon, sardines, and cod liver oil. People who do not consume these fortified food items,
have no animal products in the diet, and do not receive enough exposure to sunlight
may need a vitamin D supplement.
Vitamin D toxicity can occur when consumed at more than the Tolerable Upper
Intake Level (UL) of 100 mcg (4000 IU) for people 9 years of age and older. Because
many foods are fortified with vitamin D, high doses of vitamin D supplements
should be avoided. Vitamin D is essential to the normal skeletal growth of children,
but excess consumption is particularly risky for them.69 Excess vitamin D is stored
in the liver and can cause liver portal vein hypertension and toxicity with increased
intestinal absorption of calcium that leads to high levels of calcium in the blood.
High blood calcium can cause:
• Calcium deposits in soft tissues such as the heart and lungs
• Slowed mental and physical growth
• Confusion and disorientation
• Damage to the kidneys
• Kidney stones
• Nausea, vomiting, constipation, poor appetite, weakness, and weight loss
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel
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