Redditor takes 10000IU Vitamin D for years. This happened to his bones...

Summary

A Reddit user shares their experience of taking 10,000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily for years, eventually suffering from symptoms like fatigue, hypercalcemia, and loss of appetite. The post explores the potential dangers of high-dose vitamin D supplementation, especially when not balanced with other nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A. The narrator stresses the importance of a holistic approach to supplementation, emphasizing whole foods, sunlight, and personalized nutrient testing to avoid toxicity and improve overall health. The video advocates for a careful, informed approach to supplements rather than following trends or quick fixes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vitamin D can provide short-term benefits for mood and immune function, but long-term high-dose supplementation can lead to serious side effects.
• 😀 Multivitamins may not address individual nutrient imbalances, and they often contain low-quality ingredients like cyanocobalamin (cheap B12).
• 😀 Whole food sources of Vitamin A (like liver) are better than multivitamins, but be cautious about consuming too much liver due to toxins and copper content.
• 😀 High-dose Vitamin D supplementation, like 10,000 IU daily, can lead to Vitamin D toxicity, causing hypercalcemia and tissue calcification.
• 😀 Vitamin D increases calcium absorption, but excessive calcium can accumulate in soft tissues, causing damage to organs like kidneys and arteries.
• 😀 Vitamin D supplements can deplete magnesium and potassium, leading to symptoms like fatigue, muscle cramps, and edema (fluid retention).
• 😀 Deficiencies in magnesium and potassium, already common in many people, can worsen when taking high doses of Vitamin D, resulting in increased fatigue.
• 😀 Edema (fluid retention) can be caused by an imbalance between sodium and potassium, exacerbated by high Vitamin D intake.
• 😀 Loss of appetite may be linked to stress caused by nutrient imbalances, particularly the effects of low potassium and high sodium levels.
• 😀 Vitamin A and Vitamin D have a synergistic relationship but can act as antagonists in high doses, meaning too much Vitamin D can deplete Vitamin A stores in the liver, affecting immune health and more.
• 😀 For safe Vitamin D supplementation, it's crucial to balance it with magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin K2, and consider natural sources like sunlight or foods like cod liver oil rather than synthetic supplements.

Q & A

What are some common benefits of vitamin D3 supplementation?

Vitamin D3 supplementation has been shown to positively impact mood and help regulate the immune system, particularly in the short-term.

Why are multivitamins not recommended by the speaker?

Multivitamins are not recommended because they do not address individual nutrient deficiencies or imbalances, and often use low-quality nutrients, which may not be effective.

What is the issue with cyanocobalamin in multivitamins?

Cyanocobalamin is a low-quality form of Vitamin B12 commonly used in multivitamins, and it is considered the cheapest and least effective source of B12.

What are the potential risks of consuming too much vitamin A from liver?

Consuming too much liver can lead to copper toxicity and the accumulation of environmental toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides, as the liver stores these substances.

How does vitamin D contribute to calcium absorption, and why is it a concern?

Vitamin D increases calcium absorption in the stomach, but excessive calcium can lead to soft tissue calcification, which is harmful as it deposits calcium in the wrong areas of the body.

Why is it important to balance magnesium, potassium, and calcium when taking vitamin D?

Balancing these minerals is crucial because vitamin D depletes magnesium and potassium, leading to symptoms like fatigue, muscle tension, and fluid retention. Magnesium and potassium are needed for proper muscle function and electrolyte balance.

What can be the consequences of vitamin D toxicity on energy levels?

Vitamin D toxicity can lead to fatigue due to the depletion of magnesium and potassium, both of which are essential for muscle relaxation and proper cellular function.

What causes edema when taking high doses of vitamin D?

Edema, or swelling, occurs due to the imbalance of sodium and potassium levels, which is exacerbated by vitamin D supplementation that depletes potassium.

How might vitamin D supplementation lead to a loss of appetite?

A loss of appetite can be caused by increased stress due to potassium depletion and sodium dominance, as sodium is linked to the body’s stress response.

What is the relationship between vitamin A and vitamin D at high doses?

Vitamin A and vitamin D are synergistic in low doses, but at high doses, they can displace each other in the liver, leading to imbalances that negatively affect immune function and other processes.

What is the speaker’s advice for avoiding vitamin D toxicity?

To avoid vitamin D toxicity, the speaker advises fixing magnesium and potassium deficiencies first, focusing on natural sources of vitamin D like sunlight and foods, and monitoring nutrient levels through proper testing, such as hair analysis.