British coroner pushes ahead with country’s autopsy food standards agency Upgrading the labeling of certain nutritional supplements after a man died from vitamin D toxicity and hypervitaminosis.
David Michener, 89, was hospitalized. east surrey hospital in may of last year HypercalcemiaThat is, his blood contained too much calcium. He received treatment but died in hospital 10 days later. In December, a coroner’s inquest ruled Michener’s death was a “death due to misadventure.” This British term implies that his death was due to an action he took deliberately, not just by chance. Michener’s suspected dangerous behavior? Excessive intake of vitamin D.
Michener’s cause of death was manifold. His autopsy report listed hypercalcemia, acute renal failure, congestive heart failure, and ischemic heart disease as causes, in addition to vitamin D toxicity. Still, Surrey’s assistant coroner Jonathan Stevens was sufficiently concerned about the role supplements played in the 80-year-old’s death that he submitted a so-called report to police to prevent future deaths. . courts and tribunals judiciary.
Michener had been taking vitamin D supplements purchased from: Nature Plus UKby January 19th report. Some of the retailer’s products contain vitamin D, but the compiled report does not specify which, how often, or in what doses. do not have. In any case, the document claims that NaturPlus UK’s packaging did not contain adequate warnings about overdosing on the supplement.
“Vitamin supplements can pose potentially very serious risks and side effects if taken in excess,” Stevens wrote. “Current food labeling requirements do not require describing these risks or side effects.” [on] package. ”
He added: “In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths, and I believe you have the authority to take such action.”
This report was published by NaturPlus UK, the Food Standards Agency and Department of Health and Human Servicesthey were required to respond by March 15th.
Without vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium Therefore, they are unable to build and maintain strong bones. This nutrient, also called calciferol, is important for health. Immune system, nervous system, musculoskeletal system, too. However, few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and dietary supplements containing vitamin D cost about 10 cents. However, too much vitamin D can be dangerous.
How much vitamin D should I take each day?
In the United States, the amount of vitamin D in a product is typically listed as: international unit (IU) and/or micrograms (mcg).of Office of Dietary Supplements recommends a daily vitamin D intake of 600 IU (15 µg) for adults aged 19 to 70 years and 800 IU (20 µg) for those aged 71 years and older.
He said it’s difficult to understand the idea that vitamins are toxic because people tend to have positive associations with them. Dr. Joanne SlavinProfessor of. University of Minnesota Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
“We know that fat-soluble vitamins in particular are at risk. The ones we’re most concerned about are vitamin A and vitamin D,” says Slavin. luck, refers to them as nutrients of concern. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat solubleThat is, it dissolves in fats and oils and is stored in the liver and adipose tissue. “If you take too much over a long period of time, you can reach higher levels than necessary, and your body can’t really get rid of it.”
To prevent overconsumption, the Office of Dietary Supplements was established. Daily limit (UL) Things that are safe to consume. For example, people age 9 and older may be taking up to 4,000 IU (100 mcg) of vitamin D per day.
See How much vitamin D is too much?chart
“At least in the United States, supplements cannot exceed the UL in a single dose,” Slavin says. “But you can take 10 doses, but you can’t control it.”
In the UK, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommends 400 IU (10 mcg) per day for everyone age 4 and older.the country follows it european food safety authorityThe daily UL for people 11 years and older is 4,000 IU (100 mcg).At least two NaturPlus UK supplements contain: Each capsule contains 5,000 IU (125 mcg) of vitamin D.
Michener’s vitamin D levels were tested before he died. The coroner’s report gave a score of 380, which was “the highest level the laboratory could record.” The unit of measurement was not listed, but the number was probably expressed in nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) from a blood test. The U.S. Dietary Supplement Administration considers readings above 125 nmol/L to be high enough to cause health problems.
in 2022there are nearly 10,500 reported cases in the United States. National Toxic Substance Data System Vitamin D mentioned, up from about 5,900 year 2012.
It states that hypercalcemia is a direct result of vitamin D toxicity, as vitamin D helps regulate calcium levels in the body. Jamie Allan, Pharm.D.Associate Professor. Michigan State University Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
“Signs of increased calcium include weakness, fatigue, and bone pain,” Alan says. luck on mail. “More serious symptoms may include stupor, coma, kidney stones, stomach ulcers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and irregular heartbeat.”
Although vitamin D toxicity is rare, it’s a good idea to always monitor your intake and let your doctor know about any supplements you’re taking, Alan says.
“Over-the-counter supplements can be unreliable in terms of what’s in the supplement and how much you actually take,” Alan says, listing several companies such as: consumer lab, conduct independent testing. “If you’re thinking of trying an OTC supplement, it’s worth checking out.”
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How can I get a safe amount of vitamin D?
Vitamin D is also called the “sunshine vitamin” because the nutrient is produced in the body when sunlight comes into contact with bare skin. However, genetic and environmental factors, such as having dark skin or living in a smoggy area, can limit your body’s production of vitamin D. Wearing sunscreen, which protects your skin from carcinogenic UV rays, also impedes this process. Where you live and the season also affect vitamin D conversion.
“So milk is [is] “Vitamin D is fortified to make it available to most people in the United States,” Slavin said. luck. “In the 1940s everyone drank two glasses of milk a day, but now no one does.”
of US Department of Agriculture To ensure you get enough vitamin D in your diet, we encourage you to eat the following foods:
- light tuna can
- canned sardines
- flounder
- Fortified low-fat or fat-free American cheese
- fortified orange juice
- freshwater rainbow trout
- herring
- Low-fat or non-fat milk
- Plain low-fat or fat-free yogurt
- low fat plain kefir
- raw mushrooms
- salmon
- tilapia
- Unsweetened soy, rice, or almond milk
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, many cereals are fortified with vitamin D, and other foods such as eggs, beef liver, chicken breast, and cheddar cheese also contain small amounts of vitamin D.
Learn more about how to take vitamin D safely below.
