FDA Warns About Possible Vitamin D Overdose in Children

We’ve all grown up with the good news about Vitamin D and its role in building strong, healthy bones. As children, we were told to drink our milk for this very reason.
The good news is that Vitamin D still plays a vital role in healthy bone development. The bad news-too much of the vitamin may cause serious damage to children. That’s why the FDA has issued a warning to consumers that Vitamin D purchased in liquid form must be carefully administered to avoid overdoses that could cause a wide variety of problems such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, frequent urination, constipation, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, muscle and joint aches, confusion, fatigue and even serious damage to kidneys.
The FDA issued the following list of recommendations for vitamin D supplements:
– Make sure infants do not receive more than 400 IU of vitamin D a day
– Keep the supplement product with its original package so instructions can be followed to the letter by parents and caregivers.
– Use only the dropper that comes with the product and is manufactured just for the product
– Make sure the vitamin D dropper is clearly marked with units of measurement
– If you don’t know how much is a correct dosage, ask your physician
– If your child takes infant formula, it is best to check with your pediatrician before giving your child vitamin D supplements at all