The rewritten version is as follows:
The Ministry of Health has warned this Wednesday about the health risks of consuming vitamin D supplements without medical indication or supervision, emphasizing the importance of always using them rationally and based on scientific evidence.
«Although vitamin D plays an essential role in bone metabolism and calcium regulation, its use must be based on well-founded clinical criteria to avoid ineffective or potentially harmful interventions,» a statement from the Ministry says.
The warning from the Ministry comes after a health alert in the Balearic Islands, where 16 people had to be hospitalized for vitamin D intoxication, that is, excessively high levels of vitamin D. These poisonings occurred in healthy individuals who had consumed a defective supplement purchased online, leading to hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, and arrhythmias.
Likewise, the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) has documented previous cases of severe hypercalcemia due to overdosing in adults and minors.
In this regard, the Ministry emphasized that these products should not be consumed without a precise medical indication, as inappropriate supplementation can lead to adverse effects, especially when exceeding recommended doses. Additionally, it added that the available evidence does not conclusively support the non-musculoskeletal benefits attributed to this vitamin.
Along the same lines, the Ministry reminded that diagnostic testing to determine vitamin D levels is not justified in asymptomatic individuals without specific risk factors, as stated in clinical guidelines.
CLINICAL INDICATIONS FOR VITAMIN D MEASUREMENT
In this sense, it detailed the cases in which measuring vitamin D is justified. These include patients with symptoms consistent with vitamin D deficiency or bone metabolism disorders, such as osteomalacia, among others; institutionalized elderly individuals at risk of falls and fractures.
Also, in individuals with chronic diseases that interfere with their metabolism, such as severe renal or hepatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, bariatric surgery, or malabsorption; those undergoing treatment with medications that interfere with its absorption or activation, such as glucocorticoids or anticonvulsants; and when there is suspicion of vitamin D intoxication.
Regarding the levels of vitamin D considered adequate, the Ministry pointed out that, according to the National Academy of Medicine in the United States, levels between 12 and 20 ng/ml are sufficient to meet the needs of 97.5% of the population.
If the level is lower, especially in elderly individuals, institutionalized individuals, or those with osteoporosis, supplementation may be justified, with doses ranging from 400 to 2,000 IU per day, depending on the clinical situation. Nevertheless, it reiterated that consumption should be under professional supervision.
