7-Year-Old Boy Feared To Have Brain Tumour After Vitamin D Overdose: What Happens When You Take Too Much Of It?

A 7-year-old boy feared to have a brain tumour was actually suffering from vitamin D toxicity after an overdose triggered dangerously high calcium levels, dehydration and kidney injury.

When 7-year-old Roo suddenly became extremely tired, lost more than 10% of his body weight and began drinking large amounts of water, his parents and doctors feared something much more serious was happening. A brain tumour was among the possibilities being considered. But the real problem was far more unexpected: he had developed vitamin D toxicity after taking an abnormally concentrated supplement.

All About Roo's Vitamin D Story

Roo had been prescribed vitamin D3, also known as colecalciferol, for intense leg pain after blood tests showed his vitamin D levels were slightly low. He was supposed to take the drops for 12 weeks. Within weeks, however, he became increasingly sleepy, lost his appetite and started vomiting. His mother said he was drinking water constantly and looked extremely unwell. When he was admitted to hospital, doctors found he had an acute kidney injury and severe dehydration. His calcium levels then became dangerously high, a condition known as hypercalcaemia.

Doctors were preparing to investigate a possible brain tumour when a chance conversation with an endocrinologist provided an important clue. Another medical team had raised concerns about a faulty batch of vitamin D3. When Roo’s bottle was checked, it matched one of two recalled batches of Aactive D3 supplements made by TriOn Pharma. The products contained roughly 7x more vitamin D3 than stated, according to the BBC and the UK Food Standards Agency. 

So, What Does Too Much Vitamin D Actually Do?

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. When taken in excessive amounts, it can push calcium in the blood to abnormally high levels. This can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of appetite, dehydration, excessive thirst and frequent urination. In severe cases, hypercalcaemia can damage the kidneys and may lead to kidney failure, abnormal heart rhythms and other serious complications.

Importantly, vitamin D toxicity is generally caused by excessive supplementation, rather than sunlight exposure. The National Institutes of Health lists 3,000 IU a day as the tolerable upper intake level for children aged 4–8, although medically supervised treatment for a deficiency can involve different doses. That is why supplements prescribed for a specific medical reason should be taken exactly as directed.

Roo's case also highlights why 'more' is not automatically better when it comes to supplements. Hepatologist Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as The Liver Doc, has separately cautioned against indiscriminate vitamin D supplementation and routine testing without a medical indication.

Roo’s vitamin D levels took about a year to return to a safe range, while his mother said he still had significant limitations in daily life.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for food, medicines, exercises and so on.   

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He thought that it was migraine, but worsening vision told another story: Karnataka doctors remove a giant 5 cm brain tumour

When Raghav (name changed), a middle-aged man and a non-resident of Karnataka, began experiencing persistent headaches, repeated episodes of vomiting and progressively worsening vision disturbances, he initially brushed them off as symptoms of a routine migraine or an eye-related issue. Little did he know, these seemingly common symptoms pointed to a far more serious neurological condition. He didn’t think much of these problems until they became impossible to ignore when he finally sought care. The ream of physicians evaluated Raghav’s evaluations and were surprised to find out he had a giant pituitary macroadenoma ( a 5 cm tumour located at the base of the skull).

 He was referred to Dr. Praveen M Ganigi, senior consultant- Neurosurgery, who explained that one of the biggest challenges with such tumours is delayed diagnosis. “ Many patients initially consult eye specialists or general physicians because the symptoms appear unrelated to the brain. In several cases, patients may temporarily feel better after taking over-the-counter medication, causing them to delay further investigations”, said Dr. Praveen. “ Although  pituitary tumours are relatively common this particular tumour was considered highly complex because it had extended into critical regions surrounding the brain and was encasing important blood vessels and nerves.

In cases like these, surgery carries potential risks including stroke, vision loss, severe hormonal disturbances, prolonged unconsciousness, and even life-threatening complications of nearby structures are damaged during the procedure,: he added.

To reduce these risks, the medical team led by Dr. Praveen and Dr. Bopanna KN< HOD & Consultant- Neurosurgery, decided to perform a rare and highly specialised single-stage dual surgical procedure. In the same operation, one surgical team approached the tumour endoscopically through the nose while another team simultaneously performed a frontal craniotomy to access the tumour from above. This combined approach allowed the neurosurgeons to safely remove the tumour from multiple directions in a single sitting.

A multidisciplinary team of specialists, including neurosurgeons, endoscopic skull base neurosurgeons, anaesthesia experts, nursing teams, and critical care staff worked together throughout the surgical procedure which lasted approximately 5 hours. Advanced surgical infrastructure, including high-end operative microscopes, navigation systems, and micro-Doppler technology, played a crucial role in helping neurosurgeons identity and preserve important blood vessels and surrounding structures during the operation.

Following surgery, Raghav remained under close observation and experiences temporary hormonal disturbances, which gradually stabilised with post-operative care and treatment. He was discharged thin 7-10 days and has since returned to normal life without major complications. He has been attending regular follow-up evaluations that have shown no evidence of tumour recurrence so far.

Dr. Praveen noted that although some giant pituitary tumours may recur if tiny remnants remain attached to critical structures, these tumours generally grow slowly and can be monitored effectively though regular MRI scans. He also emphasised the importance of early medical attention for persistent headaches and visual symptoms, as timely diagnosis can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the complexity of treatment.

This case stands as an example of how even the most complex and high-risk surgeries can be successfully managed through multidisciplinary expertise. This surgery in particular, required specialised expertise of 2 neurosurgeons working together, alongside the use of advanced medical equipment, including endoscopic and microscopic systems. The success of the procedure reflects how meticulous planning, advanced surgical architecture and collaborative teamwork go hand in hand in providing patients with positive outcomes and a safe return to normal life.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for food, medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs