Can vitamin D supplements harm your heart and kidneys?
Published on: Jan. 5, 2026, 3:03 p.m. | Source: The Indian Express
Vitamin D Toxicity: The Risks of Unsupervised Supplementation While Vitamin D is essential for bone and immune health, Dr. Parin Sangoi warns that unsupervised high doses can lead to Vitamin D toxicity, as this fat-soluble vitamin accumulates in body tissues rather than being excreted. Excessive levels cause hypercalcemia (dangerously high blood calcium), which can severely damage the kidneys and disrupt the heart's electrical system, resulting in arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats. Early warning signs are often subtle, including persistent nausea, excessive thirst, fatigue, and palpitations, but can escalate to kidney failure or confusion if left untreated. Because Vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a simple nutrient, experts stress that supplementation should never be self-prescribed; instead, it must be guided by regular blood tests and tailored medical advice to ensure levels remain within a safe, therapeutic range.
