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Very high levels of vitamin D may be a health risk

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Numerous studies have confirmed in recent years that having low levels of vitamin D is bad for a person's health. However, a new investigation suggests that excessively high levels may also be a health risk factor. The findings underscore the importance of blood testing to measure and manage vitamin D levels.

In the study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen analyzed blood samples from nearly 250,000 adults and tracked participants' medical records. The results showed that, unsurprisingly, people with vitamin D blood levels of 10 nanomoles per liter had 2.5 times higher mortality rates than people with normal levels of 50 nanomoles per liter.

However, the findings also revealed that excessively high levels of vitamin D produced a greater health risk. People with blood levels of 140 nanomoles per liter had 40 percent higher mortality rates, compared to those with normal levels.

The researchers said their findings are likely to be controversial, as many people believe strongly that more vitamin D is always better. For this reason, they said it will be important for other researchers to conduct similar studies.