As most of us are aware, our bodies require daily replenishing of many nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in order to support the various bodily functions required to maintain optimum health and wellness. However, as with most things in life, too much of anything can be detrimental and vitamin D is no exception.

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that’s contained in foods and produced by your body following exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D also serves a number of vital health benefits, namely balancing levels of phosphorus and calcium in the bloodstream and ensuring the proper absorption of minerals into the bones.

A vitamin D deficiency can lead to all sorts of health problems including fatigue, weak muscles, osteoporosis, tooth decay, rickets and even enhanced aging.

However, can regularly consuming too much vitamin D be detrimental to your health? Clinical scientists and nutritionists are now compiling evidence that is concluding that too much vitamin D can lead to a variety of health issues and concerns.

Too Much Vitamin D can Lead to Heart Concerns, Says Study

When your body intakes or produces above-normal levels of vitamin D, your heart can suffer from a condition known as atrial fibrillation, which presents itself as a heart beat that’s out of rhythm and too fast. The news was presented recently at a meeting held by the American Heart Association (AHA).

The connection between excess vitamin D and atrial fibrillation was discovered in a study involving 132,000 subjects. Conducted at a medical center based in Utah, the study found that excess levels of vitamin D led to a 200% increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Vitamin D from Supplements Vs. Sunlight

In many areas, people receive most of their daily dose of vitamin D simply by being exposed to sunlight for roughly 15 minutes without sunscreen. That isn’t always possible in colder climates, especially during the winter months when everyone is wearing extra layers to keep warm. Northerners are often advised to make up for their lack of sunlight-produced vitamin D by taking vitamin D supplements.

The trouble occurs because different people absorb vitamin D supplements in different ways. The only way to know whether your vitamin D levels are low, normal or high is to get a blood test; simply following the instructions on the supplement bottle just won’t do, according to experts.

Be Wary of Supplements, Not Foods

According to Dr. Jared Bunch, the lead author of the study and an electrophysiology specialist at Murray, Utah’s Intermountain Medical Center, the normal concentration of vitamin D in the human body is between 41 and 80 nanograms per deciliter. In his study, “excess vitamin D levels” were defined as concentrations above 100 nanograms per deciliter.

Dr. Jared Bunch said that it’s nearly impossible to push your vitamin D level above its normal range through the consumption of nutrient-rich foods alone. Rather, he said that the overconsumption of supplements is to blame, especially when several of the supplements in your daily regimen contain vitamin D.

The Appropriate Daily Dose of Vitamin D

According to the National Institutes of Health, the recommended daily dose of vitamin D for all individuals between the ages of 1 and 70 is 600 IUs. Researchers admitted that it can be difficult to take in the proper amount from food alone, simply due to the fact that it’s contained in very few foods naturally.

Certain types of fish such as salmon and tuna contain high levels of vitamin D, and lower levels can be found in egg yolks and cheese. Many fortified breakfast cereals include at least some vitamin D as well. A complete list of foods sorted according to vitamin D content can be found at the website of the Department of Agriculture.

Is Too Much Vitamin D Bad For You?: The Bottom Line

If your doctor has diagnosed you with atrial fibrillation, or if you suspect that you could have the condition, request a blood test immediately to determine whether excess vitamin D is the culprit. Dr. Bunch believes that atrial fibrillation due to excess vitamin D can be reversed once vitamin D levels are brought back down to normal.