A warning has been issued to UK tourists after individuals in Spain allegedly took too much of a vitamin supplement
UK tourists planning on enjoying the sun while taking vitamin D supplements have been alerted over the risk of poisoning, Spanish health officials have warned (Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)
UK tourists have been warned after a hospital in Spain said more and more individuals had been admitted to hospital with vitamin D poisoning.
Doctors at the Son Espases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca said they believed the illnesses are linked to the prolonged and uncontrolled use of vitamin supplements, either by self-medication or inadequate adherence to guidelines, in many of the cases recorded.
The great number of people treated in hospital has been a cause for alarm for health officials, with UK tourists now being urged to be aware of the incident as the summer holidays roll in.
This is because Brits planning on taking strong supplements while sunbathing could also be at risk too.
According to the hospital’s Clinical Analysis Laboratory, a figure of around 100 poisonings were recorded due to excess vitamin D in 2024.
READ MORE: Panic in Spain as UK tourists ‘concerned over their safety’
Over recent months, a worrying trend has seen a surge in severe cases of hypercalcaemia and even acute renal failure that have required hospital admission.
The health experts explain they believe this is due to the use of supplements not prescribed by health professionals, revealed a shocking fact about the admissions.
Doctors claim most of those classed as severely poisoned were young people or athletes, who most likely have consumed the supplements on the advice of individuals they have seen on social media or podcasts, LincolnshireLive reported.
Endocrinologist Mercedes Codina and the lab analyst Cristina Gómez said: “It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which accumulates in the body’s fatty tissue and is not easily eliminated.”
“If taken in excess, it can cause poisoning,” explains Maria Pastor, specialist in the area of Hormones and Vitamins at the Son Espases laboratory.
Unlike vitamins C or those of group B, the body does not eliminate what it does not need, with the specialist adding: “The excess accumulates and can alter the calcium in the blood, with serious consequences for the kidneys or heart.”
The Clinical Analysis Service, in collaboration with the medical management of Primary Care, has launched an informative campaign to curb unnecessary demand for supplements and blood tests.
The initiative includes talks at health centres and informative materials aimed at both patients and health professionals.
A decade ago, about 10,000 annual tests of vitamin D were requested in the Balearic Islands, while today about 150,000 are carried out just in the Son Espases laboratory.
The cost in reagents has escalated to one million euros per year, not counting extraction, technical or faculty staff, or other health resources involved.
READ MORE: Terrified UK tourists in Spain, Portugal, Greece warned to stay indoors during day
In healthy people, neither routine tests nor taking supplements are recommended. Vitamin D is obtained, for the most part, through the sun.
An exposure of ten minutes, two or three times a week, is enough to maintain adequate levels they said and added: “It is essential to be advised by health professionals, as social networks can be dangerous to health due to their content without scientific evidence.”
The UK is further north than Spain so there might be a need for people to get more help from supplements.
From October to March, the NHS has said we may need to get vitamin D from our food and supplements. Since vitamin D is found only in a small number of foods, it might be difficult to get enough from food alone.
Good sources of vitamin D include:
- oily fish – such as salmon, herring and mackerel
- red meat and offal – such as liver and kidney
- egg yolks
- fortified cereals, soya products and spreads
The NHS adds : “Taking a supplement, eating vitamin D rich foods and spending time outside in sunlight isn’t a problem. Don’t take more than 1 supplement containing vitamin D (including cod liver oil) as you may be getting too much.
“If you start taking a supplement and are already taking a different vitamin and mineral supplement then please discuss this with your GP, pharmacist or dietitian.”