A neurologist has issued a warning to anyone taking three specific supplements, as overdosing on them could cause serious health damage.
Dietary supplements are becoming increasingly common. According to the BBC, over 74% of Americans and two-thirds of Britons take pills to improve their health.
But if you decide to use them, it's important that you know what and how, especially when it comes to dosage.
This year, for example, an American woman was "near liver failure" after taking too many turmeric tablets.
TikTok user and neurologist Dr. Baibing Chen – known online as Dr. Bing – has issued a warning against taking “too much” of three supplements.
Vitamin D
The first supplement that caught Dr. Bing's attention was vitamin D, which helps control the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.
According to the NHS, these nutrients are essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth and muscles. The UK government recommends that everyone take vitamin D supplements during the autumn and winter.
The problem, however, arises when you take too much. The recommended dose for children one year of age and older and adults is 10 micrograms (mcg) per day. However, infants up to one year of age need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day.
Dr. Bing is concerned: “Taking too much vitamin D can lead to calcium buildup in the blood, which can affect the brain and cause symptoms such as confusion, fatigue, depression, and sometimes even psychosis.”
"While vitamins and minerals are important for our bodies to function properly, moderation is key, as with almost everything else in life. More is not always better."
According to the Mayo Clinic, a buildup of calcium in the blood is called hypercalcemia and has some pretty unpleasant symptoms. Hypercalcemia can lead to stomach upset and vomiting, weakness and frequent urination, as well as bone pain and kidney problems like kidney stones.
