Does Vitamin D Cause Constipation?

SINCE I HAVE BEEN TAKING 2000 IUS OF VTAMIN D 3 (as cholecalciferol) I have become so constipated I have never been constipated.I feel as if I need to go to the toilet, but nothing happens.I feel so uncomfortable. What is your suggestion?

Thanking you
Regards,

Prof. Celene Bernstein

Comments for Does Vitamin D Cause Constipation?

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Vitamin d and constipation...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Celene,

I've actually covered this a few times on the site. You can see a 'general' discussion of why it happens on the Vitamin D Side Effects page and you can see a more specific discussion about it on the Vitamin D and Constipation page to see what to do about it.

Be sure to read the 'comments' section to see my answers.

Next, I'm wondering why on earth you are taking 2000 IU's of vitamin d per day?! If you read my Vitamin D Requirements page, you'll see that is an appropriate dosage for a 25 pound child- and half to one-third of an appropriate maintenance dose for an adult!!

For the average person, 2000 IU's will bring your Vitamin D Level up to about 40 ng/ml. But if you take a look at the Disease Incidence Chart by Grassroots Health, that will give you about 1/2 the breast cancer, diabetes and fracture protection that you COULD get with higher doses of vitamin d- and doesn't protect you at ALL from multiple sclerosis, ovarian or endometrial cancer!!

Yipes!!

That's why most researchers are recommending Vitamin D Levels of between 50 to 80 ng/ml.

Take a look at my Vitamin D Therapy page to see how to best accomplish that..

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

PS: If you found this website helpful, please consider using the
Easy Immune Health Product Store the next time you purchase your supplements online. Thank you for visiting my site!

Effects of Vitamin D
by: Brenda

I had blood work done and the doctor said that I need vitamein D. My bone density is low. Am taking 2000 IU's a day. Since I started I feel so bloated and am constipated. I take stool softners every day. I don't like the feeling that I am experiencing. The bloating makes me feel so uncomfortable. Have to take suppositories to go to the bathroom. Tried taking medication to have a bowel movement but don't want to get use to that. If I stop taking the vitamin D I will defeat my purpose. Don't know what else to do

Read the page that you commented on..
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Brenda,

Please go back and read the thread that you just commented on and follow the recommended links that I gave to the person who initially started the thread and that will give you the information that you need to help to solve your problem.

Kerri Knox, RN

severe constipation - taking a LOT of laxatives
by: cristina

Hi,
I have many strikes against me...first of all I've been constipated since the age of 2. I'm also depressed, I have hypothirodism, hashimoto's hypothyroidism, gran mal seizures, I take anti-allergy meds, pain medications and I was recently found to have very low vit D. First I started taking vit d by myself, then my dr. faxed my drugstore more vit D, this time a lot of it...to make a long story short...for the past month I've been SEVERELY constipated...the first time I was totally blocked for 8 days, while taking SCARY amounts of laxatives...I took 20 swiss kriss, 2 sennas and miralax for 8 days and NOTHING happened...finally I opted for prune juice - I HATE the stuff...I had a quart and a half of prune juice and 8 hours later I finally had a bowel movement...since then it happened 5 more times. The only way to go is to take prune juice...any ideas?

Yes, read the thread
by: Kerri Knox, The Immune System Queen

Yes, I have a very good idea of what to do about it. It was already stated in the thread, so I'd suggest reading the thread again.

Also, ANYTIME anyone says, "I've had this problem since I was two", it's almost always a problem of Gluten Sensitivity, especially when it's a constipation problem.

One of my nieces was ALWAYS constipated since she was a toddler too. She developed lupus at the age of 30. Her mother and I encouraged her to get off of gluten. She did and both her lupus and her constipation went away! And remember, she also had lifelong constipation. This is very typical.

However, most people make a bunch of 'rookie mistakes' when they first go gluten free, like increasing a bunch of non-gluten grains that most people are sensitive to as well, and they end up feeling just as bad!

So, I recommend that you take a cue from the experts and get the help offered in the 30 Day Paleo Diet Challenge. The Paleolithic diet is the healthiest way to go gluten free, and the expert help will help you avoid all the 'rookie mistakes' that I see people make that sabotages their attempts at going gluten free.

Kerri Knox, RN

Thanks!
by: Anna

Hi,
I came across to your page when i googled vitamin d and constipation. I have been taking vitamin d 5000 iu for about 2 months now and like 3 weeks ago started getting slightly constipated and stools became thinner and less every day until 2 days ago when nothing really came out at all though i was having good food in me. It was like i lost the urge completely. This scared me thinking of colon cancer. So i started taking magnesium citrate (250 gm) and a tsp of sesame oil. Took both at night and in the morning i had a relatively good one. Have to mention that i was taking another brand of vitamin d prior to taking this one and it did not constipate me. So i think brands differ as well as for the side effects (which in theory they shouldn't). Vitamin d is great for health though and makes me sleep better if take it in the morning. Thanks again!

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