Though it is important for overall health, an overdose of this 'sunshine' vitamin can have ugly consequences A lot has been said about the importance of Vitamin D or rather about the ill effects of its deficiency, which could include symptoms like weakness, poor concentration, restless sleep, weight gain, headaches, etc. Therefore, it's not surprising to find people compensating for it through self-medication of the same. Also, it's inexpensive (cost varies from Rs 34 for an injection to Rs 46 for tablets and Rs 63 for a suspension approximately) and can be easily purchased over-the-counter. If you too are guilty of the same, you better stop doing it with immediate effect. Why, you may ask? Read on to find out more. Neeta Tejuja (name changed), a 27-year-old media executive began taking Vitamin D, courtesy of her friend who told her about its numerous health benefits. She began taking it in the form of suspension (a suspension is a liquid with small pieces of drug) once every 10 days, until she casually happened to ask her doctor about it who asked her to refrain from doing so.
Afshan Qureshi (name changed), 32-year-old lawyer read about the downside of deficiency of Vitamin D and self-diagnosed herself as being deficient due to fatigue, improper sleep and some weight gain. But that was probably because of her stressful job and eating fast food on the go. Nevertheless, Afshan began taking Vitamin D sachets once a week. An ideal daily requirement of Vitamin D for our body usually depends upon one's age. Interventional cardiologist Dr Haresh Mehta says that generally accepted figures are 400-600 IUs (International Units) in most people up to the age of 70. However, this requirement may increase beyond this age and go up to 800 and 1000 IUs. And, in case of deficiencies or certain illnesses, it can even go up to 1000 to 2000 IUs per day. Reading about symptoms of Vitamin D on the internet or based on hearsay, and matching them with your general well-being is not a good/correct way to determine deficiency of Vitamin D. For this, it's best you consult a doctor who will prescribe test based on your health concerns.
Ideally, the 25-hydroxy Vitamin D test is a good way to determine Vitamin D levels in the body. Now that you got the low down on Vitamin D, don't rush to your nearest drug store to buy it and self-medicate. "It is very unsafe to take Vitamin D or any supplement without consulting a doctor or health practitioner as there have been cases where patients have shown toxic levels of Vitamin D in their blood," warns Syed. If there's a deficiency, you must certainly look for Vitamin Dupplements /capsules /tablets as advised by your doctor. "If taken in excess and high doses — for eg. above 4000 IUs everyday — for a long period of time, it may cause high levels of calcium in the blood. This increase in blood calcium may lead to hardening of arteries or Atherosclerosis, leading to blocked arteries. Other side effects of excessive intake of Vitamin D may be dryness in mouth, fatigue, weakness, headache and nausea among others," warns Dr Mehta. Obesity leads to Vitamin D deficiency
There are plenty of health studies throwing light on the link between Vitamin D and weight, specifically, it being beneficial for weight loss. "It has been hypothesised that because Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, it is hidden away and stored in fat tissues and muscles and then released slowly into the circulation. To summarise, obesity leads to Vitamin D deficiency and therefore an increase of the metabolic disorders too. Studies have also shown that calcium with Vitamin D supplementation has a small effect on prevention of weight gain in case of inadequate dietary intake," says GI laparoscopic surgeon and an obesity expert Dr Muffazal Lakdawala. So, if aiding your weight loss goal is your reason for self-prescribing Vitamin D, think again. Nutritionist Zainab Syed recommends supplementation of Vitamin D for weight loss only combined with moderate form of activity, a balanced diet and lifestyle modifications. "The first consultation is very important to know the patient's lifestyle, health concerns, etc. based on which I recommend a few diagnostic tests and then decide on their diet, supplementation and lifestyle modification," she says.
For more stories, follow us on Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device. More from The Times of India PM launches #IAmNewIndia on NaMo appCops to get smart ID cards soon12 CRPF personnel killed in Maoist ambush in Sukma From the WebMore From The Times of India 250 Chewable Tablets - Berry Flavour Perfect for children 3 years and older, chewable vitamin D3 supports healthy growth and development. Vitamin D also helps young bodies to absorb calcium and phosphorus, to develop and maintain healthy bones and teeth, and to avoid vitamin D deficiency. Convenient Treehouse Chewable Vitamin D3 is a small chewable tablet with delicious, naturally sweetened berry flavour that kids enjoy. Recommended dose: Children 3 years and older: Chew 1–2 tablets daily or as directed by a health care practitioner. Children need vitamin D for normal growth and development, however, vitamin D deficiency in children is now widespread.
Vitamin D3 is formed in the skin by sunlight, but the skin cannot make enough during northern winters and may be limited on summer days when children are covered up and use sunscreen. Doctors recommend giving supplemental vitamin D3 to children of all ages. Only vitamin D3 (also called cholecalciferol) is the natural form made by the skin on a sunny day. Research shows that the “sunshine vitamin” is essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption and for building healthy teeth and bones. It also plays a critical role in development of the cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems. The amount of vitamin D3 recommended for children and adolescents was recently doubled to 400 IU by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Treehouse Chewable Vitamin D3 is an easy way to give your children an age-appropriate dose and support their development and long-term health. It comes in a delicious, naturally sweetened berry flavour that your kids will enjoy. Great for kids 3 years and older.
Xylitol, natural flavour (berry), vegetable grade magnesium stearate (lubricant), natural colour (red carrot). Contains no artificial colours, preservatives, or sweeteners; no dairy, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, salt, tree nuts, or GMOs. Vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to common chronic diseases in children. Children with low vitamin D status have a greater risk for allergies, and make 50% more trips to the emergency room for severe asthma attacks (Litonjua, 2012; Brehm et al., 2010). New research suggests that vitamin D plays a role in maintaining healthy immunity and preventing diseases such as diabetes and cancer (Wagner et al., 2008). Not all forms of vitamin D have been shown to support human health. Only vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the natural form produced in your skin on a sunny day (Heaney, 2008). The American Academy of Pediatrics recently increased their recommendation for vitamin D3 to a minimum daily intake of 400 IU for all children and adolescents (Wagner et al., 2008).
This new dosage has been shown to be safe for children (Pappa et al., 2012). Brehm, J., Schuemann, B., Fuhlbrigge, A., Hollis, B., Strunk, R., Zeiger, R., Weiss, S.,Litonjua, A. (2010). Serum vitamin D levels and severe asthma exacerbations in the Childhood Asthma Management Program study. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 126(1):52-8.e5. Epub 2010 Jun 9.Vitamin D in health and disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol, 3(5):1535-41. Epub 2008 Jun 4.Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for childhood allergic diseaseand asthma.Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 12(2):179-85. Pappa, H., Mitchell, P., Jiang, H., Kassiff, S., Filip-Dhima, R., DiFabio, D., Quinn, N.,Lawton, R., Varvaris, M., Van Straaten, S., Gordon, C. (2012). Treatment of vitamin Dinsufficiency in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease: arandomized clinical trial comparing three regimens. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 97(6):2134-42. Epub 2012 Mar 28. Wagner, C., Greer, F. (2008). Prevention of rickets and vitamin D deficiency in infants, children, and adolescents.