Surprising Side Effects of Taking Vitamin D Supplements After 50

One day, we are traveling in a truck enjoying our youth. And then one day we wake up in our 50s and find crunches and cracks and other sensations that we’ve never felt before.

Unfortunately, as our age increases, our risk of developing certain health problems like osteoporosis, cancer and high blood pressure also increases. In other words, a 50 year old body is very different from a 20 year old body. And for this reason, taking certain supplements can lead to surprising effects once we reach a certain age. (Related: Best Supplements for People Over 50, Nutrition Experts Say)

Many of us have jumped on the vitamin D supplementation bandwagon over the past few years. This supplement has become so popular that it is now the second most common supplement consumed by Americans, after a general multivitamin. And with severe vitamin D deficiency prevalence rates of 5.9% in the United States, it’s certainly a good thing that many people are trying to tackle this situation.

Vitamin D is unique because, when exposed to the sun, the human body can make this nutrient. But since most of us don’t cook in the sun like we used to, the ability to produce this key vitamin is reduced.

In addition, the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D in the elderly has been estimated to be about 25% of that of people aged 20 to 30 exposed to the same amount of sunlight.

If you are over 50 and fall into the category of “vitamin D supplement takers,” here are some side effects you may be experiencing. Read on and to learn more about how to eat healthy, don’t miss the 7 Healthiest Foods To Eat Right Now.

As people get older, their risk for osteoporosis increases. About 10 million adults over 50 have osteoporosis and 34 million have reduced bone mass or osteopenia. Fortunately, vitamin D supplementation has been linked to higher bone mineral density and a reduced risk of developing osteoporosis (weaker bones).

Especially in the case of postmenopausal women, it is essential to focus on bone health, as the risk of fracture is increased. And who wants to deal with a bone fracture when it isn’t necessary?

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More than half of all cases of depression show up later in life. And late-onset depression is associated with an increased risk of morbidity, increased risk of suicide, decreased physical, cognitive and social functioning, and greater self-neglect, all of which in turn are associated with increased mortality.

Several vitamin D receptors have been identified in the brain that affect mood, suggesting that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with cognitive decline and symptoms of depression.

There are direct links between low serum vitamin D levels and the risk of depression at the end of life. Taking vitamin D supplements can help maintain healthy vitamin D levels, possibly fighting the risk of depression.

Age is the most important risk factor for some cancers. Cancer incidence rates overall are rising steadily as age increases, which means finding ways to reduce risk as age increases is critical.

The results of a study published in BMJ suggest that high levels of vitamin D are associated with a 20% lower risk of certain cancers in men and women compared to those with low levels of vitamin D. If you take vitamin D supplements and finish by having higher levels, you may also notice a reduced risk of certain cancers.

RELATED: 5 signs of vitamin D deficiency you should never ignore

There is an association between low levels of vitamin D and many diseases associated with aging, one being hypertension. The risk of hypertension increases dramatically with age.

Observational data has shown an association between low vitamin D levels and an increased incidence of high blood pressure as well as a risk of hypertension. So, a surprising side effect that you may experience if you take vitamin D supplements regularly is healthy blood pressure, although that doesn’t mean you can’t neglect a healthy diet.

RELATED: The # 1 cause of high blood pressure, according to science

As a person ages, their immune system gradually deteriorates. An association between low levels of serum vitamin D and an increased risk of developing several diseases and immune disorders (including COVID-19) has been observed. In addition to washing your hands and following all of the CDC’s recommendations, making sure your vitamin D levels are under control can help keep stings away.

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