Too much vitamin A, not enough calcium. Help?

Thanks Becky, I appreciate your response.

Yes, I have heard of vitamin D overdosing.
When I doctor prescribes a vitamin D supplement, it should be with specific instructions regarding type, amount and length of time to take the supplement. The doctor should also be doing blood work regularly to find out how the body is responding and if vitamin D levels are returning to normal. Then the appropriate follow up treatment can be determined. Going a year and not check the levels is dangerous for someone who is using vitamin D supplementation for low vitamin D stores.

Becky
Your SP Registered Dietitian

My doctor had me taking Vitamin D supplements for over a year. Doctor's office called me yesterday and told me the blood work I had done last Friday showed an overdose of Vitamin D. It was also in my Multi Vitamins and added to the orange juice I was drinking. I have been very tired lately and now that I stopped taking Vitamin D I hope that will change as I read that was one symptom of too much Vitamin D. Couldn't find much other information searching the web. Anyone have any experience in this?

An excellent source of calcium is canned salmon (with the bones) and sardines. The fat from them is also a very healthy fat.

Below is a link with other foods you might find helpful:
nof.org/articles/886

Good luck,
Kris

I'm not familiar with the metabolism and storage of Vitamin A from food sources. I know, on a supplemental basis, that we should be cautious about the lipid-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) because, unlike the others, those can build up and may become troublesome.

When you talk to your doctor about the calcium, also bring up the topic of Vitamin K2 in combination if you're using a supplemental form of calcium. From things I've read, K2 helps to get the calcium out of your bloodstream and into your tissues. Your doctor should be able to give you the best info on what kinds of supplements (if any) would be healthy for you.

It doesn't take many vegetables to be on the too much vit a list... of course there is no such thing as too much vegetables... all good

Thank you for your input and reassurance. I won't worry about the vitamin A surplus. Yes, I will talk to my doctor about calcium supplements. I suspect there is something in the supplements/fortified foods I've tried so far that I react to.

The vitamin A in the veggies and fruits is beta-carotene. This is converted to active vitamin A as needed by the body. So you do not need to worry about overdosing on the form found in produce. I think you are fine. Usually over-dosing is an issue only with people who take excessive amounts of supplements or eat very large amounts of liver "everyday".

I imagine you will have difficulty reaching your calcium intake recommendations, based on what you are sharing. You may want to talk to your doctor about a supplement.

Becky
Your SP Registered Dietitian

Thank you for the link and reassurance. If only I could learn to love tofu.. It seems like I should worry more over my lack of calcium than the abundance of vitamin A in my diet. Perhaps I would be better off limiting the herring and mackerel rather than the carrots ;)

My understanding is that if the Vitamin A is coming from plant sources you don't need to worry.

Some non-dairy sources of calcium can be found here: www.vrg.org/nutrition/calcium.php

I just tracked several micro-nutrients and discovered I am consistently very high on vitamin A. Should I be concerned about this? I have raw carrots more or less daily, often several servings a day, and I eat fish often.

I also discovered I am consistently low on calcium. (I am allergic to all dairy.) Even on the days where I ate broccoli, sesame seeds or pickled herring I did not meet the bottom suggested range. Are there any other naturally calcium rich foods that will provide enough calcium when eaten in normal amounts? Most calcium supplements will make me feel sick, including fortified soy-milk.

Edited by: CERTHIA at: 10/15/2013 (19:22)