Pensioner died from vitamin D ‘overdose’
A CORONER is calling for mandatory warnings on supplement packs after an 89-year-old man died from a long-term vitamin D overdose.
David Mitchener’s levels were the highest that could be recorded by an NHS laboratory, an inquest into the retired businessman’s death heard.
He died last May, 10 days after being admitted to hospital with hypercalcaemia – a build-up of calcium associated with taking too much of the vitamin – which can damage the kidneys and heart.
NHS guidelines say older children and adults should take a daily dose over autumn and winter, when the sun is not strong enough for the body to produce it naturally.
But Surrey assistant coroner Jonathan Stevens said Mr Mitchener’s supplements, which he took for at least nine months, did not carry a warning about the risks of taking too many, or side-effects.
He has issued a prevention of future deaths report and has urged the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care to consider making supplement manufacturers put warnings on packs.
In December, Mr Stevens ruled the death of Mr Mitchener, of Oxted, Surrey, was misadventure.
The primary causes were congestive cardiac and acute-on-chronic kidney failure, hypercalcaemia and Vitamin D toxicity, with underlying ischaemic heart disease.
Mr Stevens said: “There were no warnings on or in the packaging detailing the specific risks or side-effects of taking vitamin D supplements.”
In his report to the FSA and DHSC, he said supplements “can have potentially very serious risks and side-effects when taken in excess”. He added: “In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths.”
The organisations have 56 days to respond. The family of father-of-one Mr Mitchener declined to comment. A DHSC spokesman said: “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of David Mitchener. “We will consider the coroner’s findings in full and respond in due course.”