Common vitamin supplement warning as '100 hospitalised' in Spain
People are being poisoned by taking far too much of a vitamin supplement - with most of those being young and athletes
People going out in the sun while taking vitamin D supplements could put themselves at risk of poisoning, Spanish health officials warned
(Image: Getty )
A Spanish hospital has issued a warning after patients started turning up in greater numbers with vitamin D poisoning. Officials said the poisonings are linked, in many cases, to the prolonged and uncontrolled use of supplements, either through self-medication or inadequate adherence to guidelines.
The increase in severe cases of vitamin D poisoning at the Son Espases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca, which has seen patients who have even required hospitalisation, has raised alarm among health professionals in recent months. The poisonings are linked, in many cases, to the prolonged and uncontrolled use of supplements, either through self-medication or inadequate adherence to guidelines.
The hospital's Clinical Analysis Laboratory recorded about a hundred poisonings from excess vitamin D in 2024. In addition, in recent months they have observed an upsurge in severe cases with hypercalcaemia and even acute renal failure that have required hospital admission. This phenomenon, they explain, is due to the use of supplements not prescribed by health professionals, and they warn that the profile of the most severely poisoned were young people and athletes. Most of them consume supplements on their own following advice they see on social networks or podcasts.
And if UK tourists are going over and lapping up the sun while taking strong supplements, they could be at risk too.
Endocrinologist Mercedes Codina and the lab analyst Cristina Gómez said: 'It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which accumulates in the body's fatty tissue and is not easily eliminated. If taken in excess, it can cause poisoning,' explains Maria Pastor, specialist in the area of Hormones and Vitamins at the Son Espases laboratory. Unlike vitamins C or those of group B, the body does not eliminate what it does not need.
'The excess accumulates and can alter the calcium in the blood, with serious consequences for the kidneys or heart.'
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The Clinical Analysis Service, in collaboration with the medical management of Primary Care, has launched an informative campaign to curb unnecessary demand for supplements and blood tests. The initiative includes talks at health centres and informative materials aimed at both patients and health professionals.
A decade ago, about 10,000 annual tests of vitamin D were requested in the Balearic Islands, while today about 150,000 are carried out just in the Son Espases laboratory. The cost in reagents has escalated to one million euros per year, not counting extraction, technical or faculty staff, or other health resources involved.
In healthy people, neither routine tests nor taking supplements are recommended. Vitamin D is obtained, for the most part, through the sun. An exposure of ten minutes, two or three times a week, is enough to maintain adequate levels they said and added: 'It is essential to be advised by health professionals, as social networks can be dangerous to health due to their content without scientific evidence.'
The UK is further north than Spain so there might be a need for people to get more help from supplements.
From October to March, the NHS has said we may need to get vitamin D from our food and supplements. Since vitamin D is found only in a small number of foods, it might be difficult to get enough from food alone.
Good sources of vitamin D include:
oily fish – such as salmon, herring and mackerel
red meat and offal – such as liver and kidney
egg yolks
fortified cereals, soya products and spreads
The NHS adds: 'Taking a supplement, eating vitamin D rich foods and spending time outside in sunlight isn't a problem. Don't take more than 1 supplement containing vitamin D (including cod liver oil) as you may be getting too much. If you start taking a supplement and are already taking a different vitamin and mineral supplement then please discuss this with your GP, pharmacist or dietitian.'
How much vitamin D do I need?
Everyone over the age of 1 year should have 10 micrograms (mcg or µg) or 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day (Public Health England, 2016). This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women and people at risk of low vitamin D.
Only take a higher strength vitamin if you have been advised to do so by your doctor. Taking more than 10 to 12.5 micrograms (mcg or µg) or 400IU to 500IU per day is not necessary and high doses could be harmful in the long-term.
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What symptoms might indicate vitamin D poisoning?
Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, abdominal pain or even confusion. All related to hypercalcaemia, that is, an excess of calcium in the blood, which can lead to serious kidney problems.
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