Calcium overdose - Too much calcium

Mar 2014   Home › Low blood calcium › Porous bones › Too much calcium and calcium overdose

Calcium is an essential dietary mineral required for many body functions, including the building of skeletal structure.

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Too much calcium intake in the form of supplements, antacids and fortified foods can result in overdose. Natural food sources do not cause overdose conditions. High doses of vitamin D can lead to excess calcium absorption from the intestines.

The gastrointestinal tract normally limits the
calcium absorption. Frequent high dose intravenous administration of the mineral can also result in overdose. Hypercalcemia is one of the several overdose effects. Some of the side effects associated with too much intake are, stomach ache, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, formation of kidney stones, polyuria, giddiness, headache, irregular pulse, hypertension, neuromuscular Dysfunction and coma.

Possible causes of calcium overdose

Accidental or intentional intake of too much of calcium exceeding the upper tolerance levels (over 2,500 milligrams) in the form of supplements, syrups, antacids or fortified foods can cause many serious health problems.
Related posts: Nutritional deficiency diseases <> Mineral deficiency diseases <> Calcium deficiency diseases
Use of thiazide diuretics can increase the levels of the mineral in the body. Parathyroid gland disorders and sarcoidosis increase the level of the mineral in the blood.

Supplement overdose

Pediatric supplements in the form of tablets and syrup should be out of reach of children. As they are made palatable by addition of sweeteners and flavoring agents young children may overdose themselves.

Too much of antacids

Frequent and too much use of antacids containing the mineral can lead to high levels of calcium build up in the body and cause milk alkali syndrome.

Too much vitamin D

For efficient absorption of the mineral in the intestine, adequate levels of vitamin D is essential. Too much intake of vitamin D can lead to increased absorption of the mineral.

Related posts: Vitamin deficiency <> Protein deficiency <> Fat deficiency <> Carbohydrate deficiency

Symptoms of calcium overdose

Many of the symptoms of hypercalcemia are seen in cases of too much intake of the mineral. In chronic cases kidney stones may be formed. The normal renal function may get affected and lead to kidney failure. Some of the symptoms are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Depression
• Coma
• Muscle pain
• Bone pain
• Weakness
• Polyuria (frequent urination)

Treatment for calcium overdose

Medical attention must be sought in cases of consumption of too much of the mineral. Treatment starts with stopping of supplements of the mineral and gastric lavage is done. If the supplement has been taken recently, stomach may be emptied to remove the remaining unabsorbed mineral.

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References:
1.Vatanparast, H., D. A. Bailey, A. D. Baxter-Jones and S. J. Whiting. 2010. Calcium requirements for bone growth in Canadian boys and girls during adolescence. British Journal of Nutrition: 1-6.
2.Khosla, S., S. Amin and E. Orwoll. 2008. Osteoporosis in men. Endocrine Reviews 29(4): 441-64.
3.Harwood, R. H., O. Sahota, K. Gaynor, T. Masud and D. J. Hosking. 2004. A randomised, controlled comparison of different calcium and vitamin D supplementation regimens in elderly women after hip fracture: The Nottingham Neck of Femur (NONOF) Study. Age and Ageing 33(1): 45-51.

Current topic in nutrition, deficiency and diseases:
Too much calcium and overdose.

Selenium Side effects - Selenium overdose - Too much selenium

Home › Nutritional deficiency › Too much Selenium - side effects - overdose

Exceeding the upper tolerable levels of selenium is fraught with many overdose side effects.

While it is being advised to take adequate levels of the essential trace mineral selenium either through food or through supplements, there is a lurking danger of overdose and side effects by taking too much of it.

In fact the adult requirement is only 50-60 mcg. However the tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is also low and there is a possibility of excess intake

Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of selenium and its overdose

When blood levels of this essential trace mineral exceed 100 μg (mcg or micrograms per one deciliter (dL) of blood, selenosis, an excess of the mineral condition with many side effects is caused. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been set by The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, for preventing the risks of selenosis, at 400 micro-grams per day for adults.

Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Infants, Children, and Adults.

Age	Males and Females (μg/day)
0 - 6 months	45
7 - 12 months	60
1-3 years	90
4-8 years	150
9-13 years	280
14-18 years	400
19 years +	400

Selenium intake at levels above the UL carry very high risk of overdose and the resultant side effects.

Causes of selenium overdose

Normally we get sufficient of this mineral from our diet. The situation of excess can occur in the following circumstances.

Excess presence in soil and food.
Soils in different regions of the world contain varying levels of selenium.
Foods grown in very high selenium bearing soils have too much of it and cause selenosis.
A typical example is the case in China where people suffered selenosis when they consumed corn grown on carbonaceous shale which was extremely rich in selenium (as much much as 9%).

Self medication and excess and unregulated use of supplements
Use of selenium supplements without proper analysis of the requirement can lead to excess consumption and overdose. Frequent use of Brazil nuts and other foods very rich in the mineral can lead too much accumulation of it in the body causing the health problems.

Selenium side effects on consuming too much of it

Side effects of consumption of too much of this mineral include garlic odor in breath, lung problems, breathlessness gastrointestinal irritation, stomach upsets, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fatigue, muscle cramps, restlessness, listlessness, dementia, behavioral problems, metallic taste in the mouth, hair loss, skin inflammation, tooth decay, and fingernail discoloration.

Other problems on too much of this mineral are damage to nervous system, impairment of liver, impairment of kidney, thyroid malfunction, jaundice, dermatitis, birth defects, and stunting of growth. In extreme cases fever and damage to lung and heart occur and may result in mortality.

Relief, treatment and cure from selenium side effects

Treating selenosis starts with removing the causative factor. The patient is made to drink sufficient water to flush out the excess reducing the problems. There is no antidote for this mineral. In severe overdose cases hospitalization is necessary for the convalescence of the patient and for the treatment.

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