The Side Effects on the Stomach of Calcium & Vitamin D
Calcium and vitamin D are two nutrients that the body uses to keep your bones healthy and strong. Calcium supplements often contain vitamin D because this type of vitamin helps the body absorb calcium more efficiently. If you have low calcium or vitamin D levels, your doctor may recommend treatment with a supplement that contains these nutrients. The side effects of calcium and vitamin D on your stomach may be uncomfortable; you should discuss them with a medical professional if they persist.
Nausea or Vomiting
Ingesting a calcium and vitamin D supplement may cause irritation along your digestive tract. If this occurs, you may feel nauseous or begin to vomit, Drugs.com warns. Though these stomach-related side effects are typically temporary, they may be unpleasant. Eating a small meal or snack before taking a dose of this nutritional supplement may diminish or prevent stomach upset side effects.
- Ingesting a calcium and vitamin D supplement may cause irritation along your digestive tract.
Loss of Appetite
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Stomach irritation caused by calcium and vitamin D may result in a temporary decrease in your appetite. You may notice that you consume smaller quantities of food throughout the day or that you do not feel hungry. If such side effects persist, you may experience unintended weight loss.
Constipation
Constipation may occur as a stomach-related side effect of taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement, RxList reports. If you develop constipation, you may have difficulty producing normal bowel movements. Constipation may also exacerbate sensations of nausea or may result in abdominal bloating, pain or cramping. Seek care from your doctor if you experience recurrent or chronic episodes of constipation.
- Constipation may occur as a stomach-related side effect of taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement, RxList reports.
- If you develop constipation, you may have difficulty producing normal bowel movements.
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References
- Drugs.com: Calcium and Vitamin D
- RxList: Caltrate 600+D - Side Effects
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Calcium and Vitamin D - Important at Every Age
- UpToDate: Calcium and Vitamin D for Bone Health
- Bliuc D, Nguyen ND, Nguyen TV, et. al. Compound risk of high mortality following osteoporotic fracture and refracture in elderly women and men. J Bone Miner Res. 2013;28(11):2317-24. doi:10.1002/jbmr.1968
- Bailey RL, Dodd KW, Goldman JA, et al. Estimation of total usual calcium and vitamin D intakes in the United States. J Nutr. 2010;140(4):817-822. doi:10.3945/jn.109.118539
- National Institutes of Health. Calcium fact sheet for health professionals. Updated March 26, 2020.
- Parva NR, Tadepalli S, Singh P, et al. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and associated risk factors in the US population (2011-2012). Cureus. 2018;10(6):e2741. doi:10.7759/cureus.2741
- National Institutes of Health. Vitamin D fact sheet for consumers. Updated March 24, 2020.
- Cleveland Clinic. Osteoporosis: Prevention with calcium treatment. Updated October 15, 2015.
- Li K, Wang XF, Li DY, et al. The good, the bad, and the ugly of calcium supplementation: a review of calcium intake on human health. Clin Interv Aging. 2018;13:2443-2452. doi:10.2147/CIA.S157523
- Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbańska M, Łukaszkiewicz J, et al. Vitamin D toxicity—a clinical perspective. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018;9:550. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00550
Writer Bio
Rae Uddin has worked as a freelance writer and editor since 2004. She specializes in scientific journalism and medical and technical writing. Her work has appeared in various online publications. Uddin earned her Master of Science in integrated biomedical sciences with an emphasis in molecular and cellular biochemistry from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.