Vitamin D-Sources, Daily requirement & Toxicity (Hypervitaminosis D)
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Sources of Vitamin D
Animal Sources
- Fish liver oil
- Egg yolk
- Butter
- Milk
- Cheese etc.
Plant Sources
- Vitamin D is commercially derived from a fungus, ERGOT in the form of Provitamin D2.
- It is not absorbed well.
Daily requirement of Vitamin D
Adults
- 100 – 200 IU or 2.5 – 5 µg per day
- 400 – 600 IU after age of 50.
*I. U. = 0.025 µg of Vitamin D3
Hypervitaminosis D (Toxicity)
- Doses above 1500 IU / day for very long periods may cause toxicity.
- Symptoms include:
- Weakness
- Polyuria Hypertension
- Weight loss
- Difficulty in speech
- Hypercalcemia results in soft tissue calcification, called Calcinosis.
- Excessive exposure to sunlight does not cause Vitamin D toxicity.
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