Can you take too much vitamin d when pregnant

During pregnancy, it is important to get the proper nutrients to foster healthy fetal development. You may be tempted to take a multivitamin in addition to other supplements. However, vitamin overdose can occur when an individual takes more than the recommended daily amount of a vitamin. This can result when taking more than one multivitamin, or when taking individual vitamins in addition to a multivitamin.
While any vitamin can be toxic, if taken in large amounts, calcium and iron pose the greatest toxic risks when taken in excess. Taking a multivitamin during pregnancy is important, although it is best to talk with your doctor before taking any additional supplements to avoid overdosing.

Table of Contents Show

Recommended Daily Intake for Vitamins
Symptoms of Vitamin Overdose:
Vitamin Terms to Know:
How much vitamin D should you take while pregnant?
What happens if you have too much vitamin D during pregnancy?
Can high doses of vitamin D cause birth defects?
Can I take 1000mg of vitamin D when pregnant?

Recommended Daily Intake for Vitamins

	Pregnant Women	Breastfeeding Women	Upper limit (UL)§
Age (yr)	19-50	19-50
Folate (μg)	600	500	1000
Niacin (mg NE*)	18	17	35
Riboflavin (mg)	1.4	1.6	ND
Thiamin (mg)	1.4	1.4	ND
Vitamin A (μg)	770	1300	3000
Vitamin B6 (mg)	1.9	2.0	100
Vitamin B12 (μg)	2.6	2.8	ND
Vitamin C (mg)	85	120	2000
Vitamin D (IU)†	600	600	4000
Vitamin E (mg)	15	19	1000
Vitamin K (μg)	90	90	ND

Note: Adequate intakes (AIs) are shown in bold type, while recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) are shown in regular type.
*1 niacin equivalent (NE) = 1 mg niacin or 60 mg of dietary tryptophan.
†200 IU (international unit) of vitamin D = 5 μg cholecalciferol.
ND = not determinable due to a lack of data (intake should be limited to foods); RAE = retinol activity equivalents (1 µg RAE of preformed vitamin A= 3.33 IU).

Symptoms of Vitamin Overdose:

Symptoms of vitamin overdose also include symptoms that are a part of normal pregnancy. If you suspect a vitamin overdose, note changes in your pregnancy symptoms that might be explained by the excessive vitamins.

Symptoms of a vitamin overdose may include but are not limited to the following:

Cloudy urine
Frequent urination
Constipation
Diarrhea
Appetite loss
Nausea
Stomach pain
Muscle weakness
Muscle, joint, or bone pain
Yellow-orange tint to the skin
Sensitivity to the sun
Itching or rash
Headaches
Fatigue
Mental or mood changes
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Eye irritation or sensitivity to light
Cracking lips

If you think you may have overdosed on a multivitamin or supplement, it is important to contact a medical professional immediately. Do not make yourself vomit unless instructed to do so by a health care professional.
Before calling, be prepared to answer the following questions:

What is your individual’s age, weight, and condition?
What is the name of the product?
What time was the product taken?
How much was taken?

You can call the National Poison Control Center’s 24-hour helpline at 1-800-222-1222. It does not need to be an emergency to call. You are welcome to call for any question or concern related to overdosing or poisoning.

Vitamin Terms to Know:

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA): the recommended vitamin dosage for 97-98% of healthy individuals
Tolerable upper intake level (UL): the greatest amount of a vitamin that can be taken daily without risk of negative health effects
Adequate Intake (AI): when available data is inadequate to determine RDA, estimates are defined experimentally or through observation
Vitamin Toxicity: occurs when taking megadoses of vitamin A, B6, C, D, or niacin

Adapted from Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Recommendations
Vitamins and supplements are not one of those things where more is better. The American Pregnancy Association recommends you follow your healthcare provider’s prescription or the directions on your prenatal vitamin bottle. Although taking vitamins can be healthy, too much can be a bad thing.

Want to Know More?

Natural Sources of Vitamin B6 During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Nutrition

Compiled from the following sources:
A.D.A.M., Inc. (2013). Multiple vitamin overdose. Retrieved from
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002596.htm

Merck Manuals. (2014). Overview of vitamins. Retrieved from https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/nutritional_disorders/vitamin_deficiency_dependency_and_toxicity/overview_of_vitamins.html

How much vitamin D should you take while pregnant?

Vitamin D in pregnancy You need 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day and should consider taking a supplement containing this amount between September and March. Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

What happens if you have too much vitamin D during pregnancy?

Risks of too much vitamin D intake during pregnancy When taking vitamin D during pregnancy, be aware that excessive supplementation can occur with vitamin D, leading to toxicity. Hypercalcemia refers to a buildup of calcium in the blood and can happen to the fetus when too much vitamin D is ingested.

Can high doses of vitamin D cause birth defects?

There is no evidence that vitamin D supplements in early pregnancy are linked to birth defects in the baby. Small numbers of mothers receiving higher dose vitamin D have also not shown that this causes birth defects in the baby.

Can I take 1000mg of vitamin D when pregnant?

Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. Breastfeeding mums should take a vitamin D supplement as well. If you do not take a vitamin d supplement through pregnancy, there is a risk that your child will have soft bones.