Can vitamin D cause high cholesterol?
Daniel Foster
Updated on July 22, 2026
Higher vitamin D levels appear to be associated with higher total cholesterol levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels, according to a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) 65th Annual Scientific Sessions.
Can vitamin D supplements increase cholesterol?
One 2012 study found that vitamin D supplements have no cholesterol-lowering effects, at least in the short term. In fact, the researchers found that the supplements were actually associated with an increase in LDL.
How does vitamin D affect cholesterol?
Vitamin D is linked to cholesterol because we need cholesterol in our skins cells to make vitamin D from sunlight. The vitamin D is later transformed again in the liver and kidneys, but cholesterol is needed for the first step.
What vitamins can raise your cholesterol?
Niacin, a B vitamin, has long been used to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the "good" cholesterol that helps remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol from your bloodstream.
Can Too Much Vitamin cause high cholesterol?
Vitamin D – I love this antioxidant, but some people get too much of it. Too much D can cause excessive calcium in the blood, and this can cause hypercholesterolemia.
38 related questions foundCan vitamin D cause high triglycerides?
The vitamin D-deficient group showed higher triglyceride (TG) level and TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio than the normal group (TG level: 90.27 vs. 74.74 mmol/L, p = 0.003; TG/HDL-C ratio: 1.753 vs. 1.358, p = 0.003).
What can cause a false high cholesterol reading?
Improper fasting, medications, human error, and a variety of other factors can cause your test to produce false negative or false positive results. Testing both your HDL and LDL levels typically produces more accurate results than checking your LDL alone.
How much vitamin D should I be taking?
Taking a multivitamin with vitamin D may help improve bone health. The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU) for children up to age 12 months, 600 IU for people ages 1 to 70 years, and 800 IU for people over 70 years.
How do you know if you have too much vitamin D?
The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Vitamin D toxicity might progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.
What is the best vitamin to take to lower cholesterol?
Niacin. This B vitamin can boost HDL “good" cholesterol and lower LDL “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides -- but only use it if your doctor advises you to. Only prescription-level doses impact cholesterol and triglycerides.
When should you stop taking vitamin D?
Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years. Children aged 1 to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day.
Is it better to take vitamin D every day or once a week?
Conclusion. Daily vitamin D was more effective than weekly, and monthly administration was the least effective.
What's the side effects of vitamin D?
Some side effects of taking too much vitamin D include weakness, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, and others. Taking vitamin D for long periods of time in doses higher than 4000 IU (100 mcg) daily is possibly unsafe and may cause very high levels of calcium in the blood.
Are there any side effects from taking vitamin D3?
Too much vitamin D can cause harmful high calcium levels. Tell your doctor right away if any of these signs of high vitamin D/calcium levels occur: nausea/vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, mental/mood changes, unusual tiredness.
Is it OK to take vitamin D everyday?
Current guidelines say adults shouldn't take more than the equivalent of 100 micrograms a day. But vitamin D is a 'fat-soluble' vitamin, so your body can store it for months and you don't need it every day. That means you could equally safely take a supplement of 20 micrograms a day or 500 micrograms once a month.
When should I take vitamin D morning or night?
Is there a benefit to taking vitamin D at night? There's been some buzz suggesting a link between supplementing with vitamin D before bedtime and the ability to drift off to dreamland. Some studies have shown that vitamin D is connected to the production of melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythm and drives sleep.
Is 25 mcg of vitamin D enough?
Based on current research, it seems that consuming 1,000–4,000 IU (25–100 mcg) of vitamin D daily should be ideal for most people to reach healthy vitamin D blood levels. However, don't consume more than 4,000 IU of vitamin D without your doctor's permission.
What can mess up a cholesterol test?
Inflammation or infection. Either can skew cholesterol numbers, particularly in chronic cases. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and psoriasis may affect scores.
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
03/7Numbness in legs and feet
One tell-tale sign of high cholesterol could be the feeling of numbness in your legs and feet. This signals that plaque formation has developed in your arteries and other blood vessels.
Can fasting raise cholesterol?
We conclude that, in nonobese subjects, fasting is accompanied by increases in serum cholesterol, LDL and apo B concentrations, whereas IGF-I levels are decreased.
How can I lower my cholesterol in 30 days?
5 Easy Steps to Reduce Cholesterol in 30 Days
- Switch to a Mediterranean Diet. ...
- Increase Exercise. ...
- Supplement Fiber. ...
- Lose Weight. ...
- Drink Alcohol in Moderation. ...
- Let South Denver Cardiology Associates Help.
How can I lower my cholesterol fast?
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- Reduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol. ...
- Eliminate trans fats. ...
- Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ...
- Increase soluble fiber. ...
- Add whey protein.
Is 50000 units of vitamin D alot?
Conclusions: Vitamin D3 therapy (50,000-100,000 IU/week) was safe and effective when given for 12 months to reverse statin intolerance in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Serum vitamin D rarely exceeded 100 ng/mL, never reached toxic levels, and there were no significant change in serum calcium or eGFR.
What are the side effects of taking 50000 units of vitamin D?
Too much vitamin D can cause harmful high calcium levels. Tell your doctor right away if any of these signs of high vitamin D/calcium levels occur: nausea/vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, mental/mood changes, unusual tiredness.