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Vitamin D may damage the kidneys and liver

Friday, 30 December 2005

Vitamin D may damage the kidneys and liver

Recent reports have stated that high doses of Vitamin D can reduce the risk of cancer but too much could also harm the kidney and liver according to research scientists.

Researchers led by professor Cedric Garland at the University of California in San Diego investigated the relationship between blood levels of Vitamin D and cancer and found that taking high doses - 1,000 international units (IU) or 25 micrograms - of the vitamin daily could lower the risk by 50 percent for colon cancer and by 30 percent for breast and ovarian cancer.

However taking more than 2,000 IU - 50 micrograms - a day could lead to the body absorbing too much calcium and possibly damaging the liver and kidneys, claimed Professor Garland.

The easiest and most reliable way of getting the appropriate amount of Vitamin D was from food and a daily supplement, the scientists said.

The natural form of the D3 vitamin is gained from exposure to sunlight and it is also obtained from certain foods such as oily fish, margarine and from meat.

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