Experts warn against overuse of vitamin D

ISTANBUL

Overuse of vitamins and food supplements to keep the immune system strong during the pandemic may have negative consequences, a Turkish expert warned on Monday.

Releasing a written statement on the overuse of vitamins, particularly vitamin D, in attempts to make immune systems robust, Betul Mercan, an internal diseases expert from Medipol Mega University Hospital in Istanbul, said hypervitaminosis D, occurring as a result of excessive and unnecessary use of vitamin D, may result in various health issues.

"Most people who eat regularly do not need additional supplements but it has become common for patients to unconsciously use high doses of various vitamins, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vitamin D is one of them, and unfortunately, we frequently encounter high doses of uncontrolled vitamin D use," she said.

People should be aware of social media content that unconsciously urge people to use vitamins, Mercan stressed, saying that such uncontrolled drug use brings along unhealthy results.

A condition called hypervitaminosis D may occur due to long-term vitamin D intake or at high doses, she noted.

Hypervitaminosis D brings increased calcium excretion (hypercalciuria), high blood calcium level (hypercalcemia), and heart rhythm disorder, Mercan said, adding: "So the use of vitamin D should be under the supervision of a doctor."