### Health Officials Raise Alarm Over Surge in Vitamin D Poisoning Cases in Spain
A hospital in Spain has sounded the alarm after witnessing a considerable spike in patients hospitalised with vitamin D poisoning, prompting renewed warnings about supplement misuse. Son Espases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca has reported nearly 100 confirmed cases of vitamin D toxicity in 2024 alone, many of which involved young individuals and athletes. Health authorities attribute this worrying trend largely to excessive and unsupervised use of supplements, often fuelled by advice circulating online.
In recent months, doctors at the hospital have dealt with more severe presentations, including hypercalcaemia—an abnormally high level of calcium in the blood—and cases of acute kidney failure requiring urgent admission. These developments have galvanised the hospital’s Clinical Analysis Laboratory into launching informational campaigns aimed at curbing unnecessary supplement use and overzealous vitamin D screening.
“Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin,” said Maria Pastor, a specialist in hormones and vitamins at Son Espases laboratory. “Unlike water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C or those in the B group, excess vitamin D isn’t simply expelled. It accumulates in body fat, and when consumed in large quantities, can have serious health consequences.”
Endocrinologists warn that the most critical cases frequently involve individuals who self-medicate, following trends seen on social media and podcasts, often without consulting medical professionals. The majority of those affected are younger people and athletes hoping to improve their performance or general well-being by using high-dose supplements. The hospital cautions that UK holidaymakers sunbathing in Spain while also taking vitamin D supplements could inadvertently put themselves at similar risk.
The Clinical Analysis Service at Son Espases, in collaboration with primary healthcare administrators, has responded with a broad public education initiative. Staff are now delivering talks at local health centres and distributing literature aimed at both medical professionals and the public, hoping to counter misinformation and reduce demand for unnecessary tests and vitamin D tablets.
The scale of routine vitamin D testing has mushroomed dramatically over the past decade: in the Balearic Islands, only 10,000 such tests were carried out annually ten years ago, whereas today, the Son Espases facility alone runs around 150,000 tests each year. This surge has driven laboratory expenses for reagents up to 1 million euros annually, not accounting for associated workforce and handling costs.
For healthy individuals, experts maintain that regular vitamin D testing or supplementation is rarely required. “Exposure to sunlight—just ten minutes, two or three times a week—is usually sufficient for the body to synthesise enough vitamin D,” specialists at the hospital note. Their overarching message is that medical advice should always trump recommendations seen online, especially as much unregulated information found on social networks lacks scientific evidence and can pose real health risks.
The situation in Spain highlights familiar concerns in the UK, particularly given the country’s more limited sunshine. From October to March, the NHS recommends that some Britons may require supplements, as dietary sources are limited. Foods rich in vitamin D include oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, red meat and offal, egg yolks, and fortified products.
However, the NHS stresses that moderation remains vital: “Taking more than one vitamin D supplement or using products like cod liver oil alongside another supplement could result in an overdose,” it advises. Public Health England suggests that everyone over one year of age should aim for 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D daily, with greater intakes only recommended under medical supervision.
Symptoms of vitamin D poisoning mirror those of hypercalcaemia, ranging from nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, to abdominal pain, fatigue, and confusion. Left unchecked, such toxicity can have lasting impacts on kidney and heart function, further underlining the importance of medically guided supplementation and not relying on online trends.
As awareness of vitamin D’s importance continues to grow, health professionals stress the need for balanced education, responsible use, and meaningful communication between patients and their practitioners. The recent events in Spain serve as an urgent reminder that more is not always better, and that supplement use should never replace sound medical advice.