Vitamin D and Excessive Urination

July 20, 2016 8 Comments

Vitamin D and Excessive Urination

| By Betty Holt

Vitamin D and Excessive Urination
Toilet Photo Credit kostsov/iStock/Getty Images

Vitamin D, sometimes known as the “sunshine vitamin,” plays an important role in many of the body’s functions, and a deficiency in it can cause some serious problems. However, taking excessive amounts of vitamin D can also be troublesome. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is not excreted in the urine if you consume too much. Certain medications might raise vitamin D levels in the bloodstream, while others might decrease it. Check with your doctor before supplementing vitamin D.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is stored by the body and is activated when your skin meets sunlight. It is also found in some foods, most notably milk that has been fortified with the vitamin. Two forms of vitamin D exist — ergocalciferol, or vitamin D2, and cholecalciferol, or D3. The latter is considered to be better at raising blood levels of the vitamin. Proper amounts of vitamin D can prevent osteoporosis, rickets and osteomalacia because it helps the body absorb and use calcium. It also might help prevent high blood pressure; balance problems; certain cancers such as colon, breast, prostate, skin and pancreatic; seasonal affective disorder; diabetes; multiple sclerosis; obesity; and overall mortality. New guidelines from the Institute of Medicine in November 2010 recommend that adults up to age 70 get 600 international units of vitamin D daily. Over age 71, they should get 800 IUs.

Excessive Urination

Frequent urination means needing to urinate more often than usual, as opposed to urgent urination, which is a sudden, compelling urge to urinate accompanied by bladder discomfort. Frequent urination at night is called nocturia. Most people can go for six to eight hours at night without having to urinate. High doses of vitamin D, in excess of 1,000 IUs per day, can cause frequent urination, according to the website Spine Universe. The National Institutes of Health has set the maximum upper limit at 1,000 IUs for children under age 12 and 2,000 IUs for adults, but some researchers argue these limits are too low. Consult with your doctor if you are taking more than 1,000 IUs per day and experiencing excessive urination.

Other Side Effects

Calcitriol is a form of vitamin D prescribed to treat bone disorders and low levels of calcium in the blood caused by disorders of the kidneys or parathyroid glands. Side effects of this form of vitamin D include increased urination, excessive thirst, metallic taste in the mouth, weight loss, poor appetite, tiredness, sore eyes, itchy skin, vomiting or diarrhea, constipation and problems with muscles, according to MedlinePlus. If you are experiencing any of these side effects, you might need to see your doctor and cut back on your dosage.

Other Causes of Frequent Urination

Frequent urination could also be caused by diabetes, pregnancy or prostate problems. Additionally, the following also can be causes of frequent urination: anxiety, interstitial cystitis, diuretic medicines, overactive bladder syndrome, prostatitis or enlarged prostate, stroke or other brain or nervous system diseases, a tumor or mass in the pelvis, urinary incontinence and vaginitis. Less common causes include radiation therapy to the pelvis, bladder dysfunction or bladder cancer. Drinking too much liquid before bedtime, especially those high in caffeine or alcohol, can cause frequent urination at night.

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