Prevalence of Iatrogenic Vitamin D Toxicity Among the Saudi Population of Vitamin D Users Due to Overcorrection

April 2023 in “ Cureus ”

Faisal Aljehani, Mohammed B Qashqari, Mohammed K Alghamdi, Abdalaziz I Saadi, Mohamed Y Alreasini, Enad Alsolami, Mohammed Alfawaz

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TLDR Many people in Saudi Arabia use vitamin D supplements, but few experience toxicity, showing the need for professional guidance when taking these supplements.

This cross-sectional study involved 1,677 vitamin D users in Saudi Arabia, finding that 63.8% had a history of vitamin D use, primarily due to confirmed deficiency, lack of sun exposure, and hair loss. Despite the widespread use of these supplements, only 6.6% reported symptoms of overdose, with 3.3% having an overdose and 2.1% experiencing both. The study concluded that while vitamin D toxicity is relatively low among the Saudi population, professional guidance is necessary to minimize its occurrence. It also found that 22.4% of those who took Vitamin D on the advice of non-professionals reported toxicity, indicating the importance of professional guidance in supplement use.