Question about Vitamin D

CToniC · 08-24-2004, 08:37 AM

I have heard that too much vitamin D can be toxic, but how much is too much? I take a liquid multi-vitamin, and it has 100% of the RDA for vitamin D. I also want to take "Focus Factor," and if you take all 8 tablets, you get another 50%.

I love Focus Factor, and took it for a long time before I started taking the liquid vitamins. But because I'm nervous about overdosing, I've stopped the Focus Factor, and I'd like to go back.

So, anybody know how much is too much? I can always switch back to a regular multi-vitamin, but I have 4 bottles of this stuff in my back room, and I hate to waste it. Any info - even a site to check out - would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

Toni

Atkins_Nutritionist · 08-24-2004, 10:14 AM

Toni,

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, as is A, E, and K. They get their name because the presence of fat is required for the assimilation of these vitamins in the body. These vitamins are absorbed by the body from the intestinal tract and follow the same path of absorption as fat and any condition interfering with the absorption of fats would result in poor absorption of these vitamins as well. This class of nutrient can be stored in the body to some extend, mostly in the liver, and because of this, short term deficiencies are less likely to manifest themselves slower than those of the water-soluble class. But also because of their ability to be stored, they can be toxic.

Natural vitamin D toxicities are limited genetic diseases that cause excessive D to be stored. Unfortunately, the existence of vitamin supplements have not only eliminated rickets and other horrible consequences of vitamin D deficiency, but have also made artificially-induced vitamin D toxicity possible. Ingestion of milligram quantities of vitamin D over periods of weeks of months can be severely toxic to humans and animals. An excess of Vitamin D increases the absorption of Calcium which leads to high levels of Calcium in the blood. This causes Calcium to precipitate in the soft tissues and produce Calcium stones. Excess Calcium levels also cause calcification or hardening of the blood vessels, thus endangering the arteries of the heart and lungs which may ultimately results in death. In fact, baits laced with vitamin D are used very effectively as rodenticides.

You get Vitamin D from sunlight (your body converts it to D) and from some foods. The RDA for D for adults over 25 is 200 IU (5 mcg).

A multivitamin is recommended on the Atkins Nutritional Approach and it is great that you include one. I am not familiar with Focus Four, but I question your desire to take it along with the multivitamin. You want to get your nutrients from whole foods and the multivitamin is for ‘insurance’. But do not include multiple multivitamins, especially for the nutrients that your body stores such as the fat solubles. This not only is unnecessary, but also may be dangerous

CToniC · 08-24-2004, 02:06 PM

Thanks for the info. Focus Factor is a dietary supplement that enhances memory, concentration, and focus. After too many "senior moments," I decided to try it. I really like it, so I'll probably keep taking that, but just make sure I'm getting the RDA of everything else. Thanks again.

08-24-2004, 08:37 AM	#1
CToniC Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ada, OH USA Posts: 73 Gallery: CToniC Stats: 390/210/175 WOE: Protein Power Lifeplan Hedonist!	Question about Vitamin D I have heard that too much vitamin D can be toxic, but how much is too much? I take a liquid multi-vitamin, and it has 100% of the RDA for vitamin D. I also want to take "Focus Factor," and if you take all 8 tablets, you get another 50%. I love Focus Factor, and took it for a long time before I started taking the liquid vitamins. But because I'm nervous about overdosing, I've stopped the Focus Factor, and I'd like to go back. So, anybody know how much is too much? I can always switch back to a regular multi-vitamin, but I have 4 bottles of this stuff in my back room, and I hate to waste it. Any info - even a site to check out - would be greatly appreciated. TIA. Toni

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08-24-2004, 10:14 AM	#2
Atkins_Nutritionist Nutritionist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Atkins Health and Medical Information Services Posts: 684 Gallery: Atkins_Nutritionist	Toni, Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, as is A, E, and K. They get their name because the presence of fat is required for the assimilation of these vitamins in the body. These vitamins are absorbed by the body from the intestinal tract and follow the same path of absorption as fat and any condition interfering with the absorption of fats would result in poor absorption of these vitamins as well. This class of nutrient can be stored in the body to some extend, mostly in the liver, and because of this, short term deficiencies are less likely to manifest themselves slower than those of the water-soluble class. But also because of their ability to be stored, they can be toxic. Natural vitamin D toxicities are limited genetic diseases that cause excessive D to be stored. Unfortunately, the existence of vitamin supplements have not only eliminated rickets and other horrible consequences of vitamin D deficiency, but have also made artificially-induced vitamin D toxicity possible. Ingestion of milligram quantities of vitamin D over periods of weeks of months can be severely toxic to humans and animals. An excess of Vitamin D increases the absorption of Calcium which leads to high levels of Calcium in the blood. This causes Calcium to precipitate in the soft tissues and produce Calcium stones. Excess Calcium levels also cause calcification or hardening of the blood vessels, thus endangering the arteries of the heart and lungs which may ultimately results in death. In fact, baits laced with vitamin D are used very effectively as rodenticides. You get Vitamin D from sunlight (your body converts it to D) and from some foods. The RDA for D for adults over 25 is 200 IU (5 mcg). A multivitamin is recommended on the Atkins Nutritional Approach and it is great that you include one. I am not familiar with Focus Four, but I question your desire to take it along with the multivitamin. You want to get your nutrients from whole foods and the multivitamin is for ‘insurance’. But do not include multiple multivitamins, especially for the nutrients that your body stores such as the fat solubles. This not only is unnecessary, but also may be dangerous

08-24-2004, 02:06 PM	#3
CToniC Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ada, OH USA Posts: 73 Gallery: CToniC Stats: 390/210/175 WOE: Protein Power Lifeplan Hedonist!	Thanks for the info. Focus Factor is a dietary supplement that enhances memory, concentration, and focus. After too many "senior moments," I decided to try it. I really like it, so I'll probably keep taking that, but just make sure I'm getting the RDA of everything else. Thanks again.