FDA Warns of Possibility of Vitamin D Overdose in Infants

Parents and caregivers may accidentally give infants too much vitamin D when using supplements that come with droppers, the FDA cautioned on Tuesday.

According to the agency, infants should not receive more than 400 IU of vitamin D per day, the dose recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for infants who are exclusively or partially breast-fed.

Excessive intake of vitamin D in infants could lead to kidney damage. Other possible effects include vomiting; loss of appetite; excessive thirst; frequent urination; abdominal, muscle, and joint pain; and fatigue.

The FDA has asked manufacturers to clearly mark droppers that are sold with vitamin D supplements and further recommends that products made for infants contain droppers that only hold the recommended dose.