Risk Of Toxic Overdoses Of Vitamin D Is Virtually Zero

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and for preventing a variety of chronic illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes. Research has shown that many Americans do not get enough vitamin D in their diet, so physicians and nutritionists have recommended supplements. But fears have been raised that overdoing vitamin D can be toxic. A new U.S. study, however, shows that the danger of toxic overdoses of vitamin D is rare. Analyzing 10 years of data from 20,000 vitamin D measurements, the researchers found that eight percent had levels greater than the recommended maximum of 50 ng/mL. Less than one percent had levels over 100 ng/mL. But even among those with high levels of vitamin D, the risk of hypercalcemia, or elevated serum calcium, was nonexistent.