An 89-year-old man in the United Kingdom died from an “overdose” of vitamin D supplements that did not warn about the dangers of excessive use. According to the New York Post, David Mitchener, a retired businessman, had a high level of vitamin D when he was admitted to the hospital last May. He had hypercalcemia, which is a buildup of calcium in the body caused by excessive vitamin D intake. He died ten days later.
Vitamin supplements can have potentially very serious risks and side effects when taken in excess
Members of the local medical community are now using the opportunity to warn the public about the dangers of taking the popular supplement. The incident also prompted the Surrey assistant coroner to issue a report urging regulatory bodies to require clear warnings on supplement packaging about the dangers of overconsumption, the outlet reported.
“There was no warning on or in the packaging detailing the specific risks or side effects of taking vitamin D supplements,” coroner Jonathan Stevens stated in his official report. “In my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken,” he said.
Mr. Stevens also wrote to the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care, urging them to require supplement manufacturers to print warning labels on packaging.
The 89-year-old is said to have had the highest recorded levels of Vitamin D
In his report, he warned that vitamin supplements “can have potentially very serious risks and side effects when taken in excess”. He went on to explain that “current food labeling requirements do not require these risks and side effects to be written on the packaging.”.
Notably, the 89-year-old is said to have had the highest recorded levels of vitamin D in his body, according to the Post. His post-mortem report showed that his Vitamin D levels were 380, which is the “maximum level recorded by the laboratory.”.
