Hypervitaminosis D in older adults: Risks, prevalence, and clinical consequences. A case report.

Czech version

Authors: Milena Bretšnajdrová
Authors‘ workplace: II. Interní klinika gastroenterologická a geriatrická LF UP a FN Olomouc
Published in: Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2025, 14, č. 4: 166-171
Category:
doi: https://doi.org/10.61568/geri/50-6616/20251113/142065

Overview

Bretšnajdrová M. Hypervitaminosis D in older adults: risks, prevalence, and clinical consequences. A case report

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in regulating calcium and phosphate metabolism, bone mineralization, immune response, and neurocognitive functions.Vitamin D, especially its forms D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol), is known to be fat-soluble and to play a vital role in the prevention of osteoporosis and falls. This reflects the long-term experience of low vitamin D levels in most of the population in the middle latitudes, especially older adults. The levels of vitamin D decline with age in older people, although the causes of this phenomenon are still under discussion. This is certainly due to a reduced ability to activate provitamin D in the skin, changes in diet composition, and a decrease in physical activity. On the other hand, it is known and proven that vitamin D has beneficial effects, which is why vitamin D supplementation is now common among older adults, especially in the context of osteoporosis and fall prevention. In recent years, however, there have been cases of hypervitaminosis D, which can lead to serious health complications, especially in multimorbid elderly patients. The symptoms are nonspecific and can often go unnoticed, making diagnosis difficult.

This case report presents a 78-year-old female patient with nonspecific neurological symptoms, sleep disturbances, and digestive problems who was diagnosed with severe hypervitaminosis D due to long-term excessive supplementation. The case illustrates the diagnostic pitfalls, nonspecific symptoms, and the importance of consistent medication management and laboratory monitoring.

Keywords:

Insomnia – Vomiting – vitamin D – neurological symptoms

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