According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), vitamin D is a nutrient that is essential for good health. It is mainly obtained through sun exposure, but can also be found in some foods and supplements. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is necessary for strong bones and teeth.

Average Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D levels in the body are measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The average Vitamin D level in the body is 30 ng/mL, but there are a lot of people who have levels that are much higher or much lower than this. A lot of factors go into what your ideal Vitamin D level should be, including age, skin color, and whether you live in a sunny or cloudy climate.

What might happen if you have high Vitamin D Levels in the Body?

Too much of something is never a good thing, and that is definitely the case with vitamin D. While you want to make sure you have enough of this essential vitamin in your body, too much can actually lead to some health complications. Let’s take a closer look at what happens if you have excessive levels of vitamin D in your system. Here are some potential health complications that can occur:

1. Heart Problems 

Too much vitamin D can lead to heart problems due to an increase in the amount of calcium in your blood. This can lead to calcification of the arteries, which can eventually cause heart disease. Your heart also has to work harder to pump blood through your body with high levels of vitamin D, which can lead to heart failure. With high levels of vitamin D, you also have an increased risk of developing arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are problems with the regular beating of your heart, which can cause it to stop beating altogether. The risk of a heart attack or stroke also increases with high levels of vitamin D. Irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and stroke are all serious health complications that can lead to death.

2. Kidney Problems 

One of the main jobs of the kidneys is to filter out excess calcium from the blood. When you have high levels of vitamin D in your system, the kidneys have to work overtime to get rid of the extra calcium. This can lead to kidney failure. In some cases, high levels of calcium can even cause calcium stones to form in the kidneys. These stones can be very painful and can block the flow of urine, leading to even more problems. On extreme occasions, the calcium stones can even travel down the urinary tract and get lodged in the bladder. This can cause a UTI or even a kidney infection.

3. Bone Problems 

Too much vitamin D can also lead to bone problems. The high levels of calcium in your blood can cause the bones to become soft and brittle. This makes them more susceptible to fractures and other injuries. Osteoporosis is a condition that can develop with high levels of vitamin D. This is a disease that causes the bones to become thin and brittle, leading to an increased risk of fractures. The bones may also start to deform, which can cause extreme pain.

4. Digestive Problems 

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that it is absorbed and stored in the fatty tissues of the body. When you have too much vitamin D, it can overload these tissues and lead to some digestive problems. These problems can include constipation, diarrhea, and nausea. In some cases, high levels of vitamin D can even lead to pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the pancreas, which can lead to pain and other digestive problems.

5. Increased Risk of Cancer 

One of the biggest dangers of having high levels of vitamin D is the increased risk of cancer. This is because vitamin D can actually help to promote the growth of cancer cells. With high levels of vitamin D, you have an increased risk of developing cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon. When cancer cells are allowed to grow and multiply, it can lead to serious health complications.

6. Hormonal Imbalance 

High levels of vitamin D can also lead to a hormonal imbalance in the body. This is because vitamin D is actually a hormone. When you have too much vitamin D, it can throw off the balance of other hormones in the body, leading to problems such as infertility, early-onset puberty, and decreased muscle mass. The high levels of vitamin D can also lead to an increase in the production of testosterone, which can cause masculine features to develop in females.

7. Neurological Problems 

High levels of vitamin D can also lead to some neurological problems. This is because vitamin D is actually necessary for the proper function of the nervous system. When you have too much vitamin D, it can cause the nervous system to become overloaded. This can lead to problems such as confusion, hallucinations, and even seizures. In some cases, high levels of vitamin D can even cause permanent damage to the nervous system.

8. Skin Problems 

Vitamin D is necessary for the proper function of the skin. When you have too much vitamin D, it can overload the skin and lead to problems such as dry skin, rashes, and acne. High levels of vitamin D can also cause the skin to become more sensitive to the sun. This can lead to a condition called sunburn, which is a painful, red rash that develops after being in the sun for a long period of time.

How to Test for Vitamin D

Vitamin D is tested through a blood test, which measures the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood. This is the most accurate way to test for vitamin D levels. If you think you may have high levels of vitamin D, it is important to talk to your doctor about getting this test done. The cost of the test may vary depending on your insurance plan. Without an insurance plan, the cost of the test can range from  $15 to $263.

If you have high levels of vitamin D in your body, it can lead to a number of health problems. These include digestive issues, an increased risk for cancer, hormonal imbalances, and neurological difficulties as well as skin conditions like dryness, rashes, or acne. The best way to test for this is through a blood test that measures the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood. Speak with your doctor if you are concerned that you may have high levels of vitamin D.