Injection or Overdose? Unpacking the Risks of Vitamin D3 Injections

Why a Single dose of 6 lac IU Vitamin D3 Injection May Be Unsafe for Your Health?

Vitamin D is a sunshine hormone essential for maintaining healthy bones, supporting immune function, and maintaining calcium levels in the body. However, there’s been growing concern about the safety of high-dose Vitamin D3 injections, often prescribed as a quick fix for deficiency. While these injections may seem convenient, they can pose significant risks to bone health, kidney function, and overall well-being.

Let us see why daily use of low-dose oral vitamin D3 supplementation is a better choice.

Newspaper article dated 28/11/2024

The Risks of High-Dose (6 lac IU) Vitamin D3 Injections:

A single high-dose Vitamin D3 injectable delivers a high amount of the vitamin D into the bloodstream. While this may raise D3 levels quickly, but it can lead to:

1.Bone Demineralization: Excess Vitamin D can increase calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can weaken bones by reducing the body’s ability to absorb calcium into the bone matrix.

2.Kidney Damage: High calcium levels caused by vitamin D toxicity can lead to calcium deposits in the kidneys, increasing the risk of kidney stones and impairing kidney function over time.

3.Hormonal Imbalances: Vitamin D plays a role in the endocrine system (system that makes hormones). An overdose of vitamin D can create hormonal imbalance, leading to complications like fatigue, nausea, or even irregular heart rhythms.

Why Oral Vitamin D3 Supplementation is Safer?

•Daily Low Dosing Mimics Natural Processes : Taking low doses of 5000-10000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily allows for gradual absorption, this replicates the process how our body makes vitamin D from sunlight. This reduces the risk of sudden spikes in blood calcium levels and toxicity.

•Better Regulation of Calcium Levels: Smaller, consistent doses help maintain stable levels of calcium in the blood and prevent complications associated with hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in blood).

•Improved Absorption with Food: Oral Vitamin D3 supplements can be taken with healthy fats, such as those in avocado or raw olive oil, coconut oil to enhance absorption, something vitamin D3 injections lack.

We suggest all our patients to eat the vitamin D supplement IN BETWEEN the meals as it absorbs the best!

Side Effects of High-Dose Vitamin D3 (Oral and Injectable):

1. Hypercalcemia: Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weakness, frequent urination, and kidney complications.

2. Gastrointestinal Issues: High-dose oral supplements may cause constipation, abdominal pain, or diarrheas.

3. Cardiovascular Risks: Excessive calcium deposits in blood vessels can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

4. Tissue Calcification: Prolonged high doses can lead to calcification (process in which calcium builds up in soft tissues causing it to harden), including the heart and lungs.

The Bottom Line: While Vitamin D3 is essential for your health, a "quick fix" approach through high-dose injectable can do more harm than good. Instead, opt for consistent, low-dose oral supplementation to maintain safe and effective Vitamin D levels. Always consult a doctor or healthcare provider for personalized recommendations and ensure the supplements you choose meet safety and quality standards.

We currently prescribe iThrive D3 + K2 in MCT oil to our patients.

The link for the same is here: https://www.ithrive.shop/products/liquid-vitamin-d3-k2-drops.

Use discount code: FRIENDSOFHEALTH

You can avail 5% additional off over and above whatever charges.

Your Friend In Health,

Dr. Sneha D. Shah

BHMS, DNHE, PGDCR

Functional Nutritionist

+91-9969609193