Moreover, supplements are not without risks. Many cases of vitamin D toxicity result from errors in treating deficiency.
In one case, an 80-year-old man accidentally took a high-dose weekly vitamin D tablet every day instead. Fortunately, his condition improved once the mistake was identified and the supplement was stopped.
Children are also at risk. In 2016, Denmark’s national health authority recalled a supplement containing 75 times the recommended dose of vitamin D after about 20 children experienced toxic effects.
A similar trend is emerging in the United States. Between 2000 and 2014, more than 25,000 cases of vitamin D toxicity were reported. From 2005 to 2011, cases increased by 1,600 percent, many involving children and teenagers.
