A U.Okay. coroner is pushing the nation’s Meals Requirements Company to improve its labeling of sure dietary dietary supplements, after a person died partially from vitamin D toxicity, or hypervitaminosis D.David Mitchener, 89, was admitted to East Surrey Hospital final Might with hypercalcemia, that means his blood was overloaded with calcium. He was handled however died within the hospital 10 days later. In December, a coroner’s investigation dominated Mitchener’s demise “loss of life by misadventure.” This U.Okay. time period implies his loss of life was not solely unintentional but in addition because of an motion he intentionally took. Mitchener’s alleged dangerous conduct? Taking an excessive amount of vitamin D.Mitchener’s explanation for loss of life was multipronged; his post-mortem report named hypercalcemia, acute kidney failure, congestive coronary heart failure, and ischemic coronary heart illness as culprits along with vitamin D toxicity. Even so, Surrey assistant coroner Jonathan Stevens was involved sufficient concerning the complement’s position within the octogenarian’s loss of life that he filed what’s known as a report to forestall future deaths with the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.For a minimum of 9 months earlier than his loss of life, Mitchener had been taking vitamin D dietary supplements bought from NaturPlus UK, in line with the Jan. 19 report. A number of of the retailer’s merchandise comprise vitamin D, however the redacted report didn’t specify which one(s) Mitchener had been taking, how typically, or in what dosage(s). Regardless, the doc alleges NaturPlus UK packaging didn’t function sufficient warnings about complement overdose.“Vitamin dietary supplements can have doubtlessly very severe dangers and uncomfortable side effects when taken in extra,” Stevens wrote. “Present meals labeling necessities don’t require these dangers and uncomfortable side effects to be written [on] the packaging.”He added, “For my part, motion ought to be taken to forestall future deaths and I consider you could have the facility to take such motion.”The report was despatched to NaturPlus UK, the Meals Requirements Company, and the Division of Well being and Social Care, which have been required to reply by March 15.Story continuesWithout vitamin D, your physique can’t soak up calcium and due to this fact can’t construct and keep sturdy bones. The nutrient, additionally known as calciferol, is crucial for the well being of your immune, nervous, and musculoskeletal techniques, too. However as a result of few meals naturally comprise vitamin D, dietary dietary supplements that includes it are a dime a dozen. A surplus of vitamin D, although, might be harmful.How a lot vitamin D ought to I take day by day?Within the U.S., the quantity of vitamin D in a product is usually labeled in Worldwide Models (IU) and/or micrograms (mcg). The Workplace of Dietary Dietary supplements recommends day by day vitamin D intakes of 600 IU (15 mcg) for adults ages 19 to 70, and 800 IU (20 mcg) for these 71 and older.Individuals are inclined to have a optimistic affiliation with nutritional vitamins, so the concept they are often poisonous is tough to understand, says Joanne Slavin, Ph.D., a professor within the Division of Meals Science and Diet on the College of Minnesota.“We all know they are often, particularly fat-soluble nutritional vitamins. Vitamin A, vitamin D are those that we’re most anxious about,” Slavin tells Fortune, referring to them as vitamins of concern. Nutritional vitamins A, D, E, and Okay are fat-soluble, that means they’ll dissolve in fat and oils, and are saved in your liver and fatty tissue. “In case you’re taking an excessive amount of over time, you will get larger ranges than you want, and the physique can’t actually do away with it.”To assist stop overconsumption, the Workplace of Dietary Dietary supplements established day by day higher limits (ULs) of what’s protected to eat. Individuals 9 and older, for instance, might have a most 4,000 IU (100 mcg) of vitamin D per day.View this interactive chart on Fortune.com“Dietary supplements, within the U.S. a minimum of, should not presupposed to have greater than the UL in any single dose,” Slavin says. “However you could possibly take 10 doses—we will’t management that.”Within the U.Okay., the Scientific Advisory Committee on Diet recommends 400 IU (10 mcg) per day for everybody ages 4 and older. The nation follows the European Meals Security Authority’s day by day UL of 4,000 IU (100 mcg) for individuals 11 and older. No less than two NaturPlus UK dietary supplements comprise 5,000 IU (125 mcg) of vitamin D in a single capsule.Mitchener’s vitamin D degree was examined earlier than his loss of life. The coroner’s report confirmed a rating of 380, “the utmost degree recordable by the laboratory.” No unit of measurement was listed, however this quantity was presumably a blood take a look at in nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). The U.S. Workplace of Dietary Dietary supplements considers a studying above 125 nmol/L excessive sufficient to trigger well being issues.In 2022, practically 10,500 circumstances reported to the U.S. Nationwide Poison Information System talked about vitamin D, up from about 5,900 in 2012.As a result of vitamin D helps regulate calcium ranges in your physique, hypercalcemia is a direct results of vitamin D toxicity, says Jamie Alan, Pharm.D., an affiliate professor within the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State College.“Indicators of elevated calcium can embrace weak point, fatigue, and bone ache,” Alan tells Fortune through e mail. “Extra severe signs can embrace stupor, coma, kidney stones, abdomen ulcers, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and cardiac arrhythmias.”Whereas vitamin D toxicity is uncommon, it’s a good suggestion to maintain tabs in your consumption and preserve your physician knowledgeable of any dietary supplements you’re taking, Alan says.“Over-the-counter dietary supplements might be unreliable when it comes to what the complement incorporates and the dose you’ll truly obtain,” Alan says, noting some firms, similar to ConsumerLab, do unbiased testing. “It’s price trying out should you resolve to strive an OTC complement.”Wholesome meals containing vitamin D. Prime viewHow can I get a protected quantity of vitamin D?Vitamin D is nicknamed “the sunshine vitamin” as a result of your physique makes the nutrient when daylight touches your naked pores and skin. Nonetheless, genetic and environmental elements, similar to having darkish pores and skin or dwelling in a smoggy space, can restrict your physique’s vitamin D manufacturing. Sporting sunscreen, which helps defend your pores and skin from cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation, additionally hinders the method. The place you reside and the time of 12 months impacts your vitamin D conversion, too.“That’s why milk [is] fortified within the U.S. with vitamin D, simply to verify most individuals are going to get it,” Slavin tells Fortune. “Which made complete sense again within the Forties, when everyone drank two servings of milk day-after-day, however now individuals don’t.”The U.S. Division of Agriculture encourages consumption of those meals that can assist you get sufficient vitamin D in your weight loss program:Canned gentle tunaCanned sardinesFlounderFortified low- or nonfat American cheeseFortified orange juiceFreshwater rainbow troutHerringLow- or nonfat milkLow- or nonfat plain yogurtLow-fat plain kefirRaw mushroomsSalmonTilapiaUnsweetened soy, rice, or almond milkMany cereals are fortified with vitamin D, and different meals together with eggs, beef liver, hen breast, and cheddar cheese have the nutrient in small quantities, in line with the Workplace of Dietary Dietary supplements.For extra on safely consuming vitamin D:This story was initially featured on Fortune.com