Calcium and Vitamin D for PBC

Overview
Doctors sometimes recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements to treat bone weakening and bone loss that can be a complication of primary biliary cholangitis.

The body needs a sufficient level of calcium for building and maintaining bones, as well as the proper functioning of nerves and muscles — especially the heart. Vitamin D is necessary for your body to absorb and use calcium, and it also plays vital roles in the nervous and immune systems. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means your body can store extra for use on days when you don't take in enough. However, it also means it’s possible to take in too much vitamin D and reach toxic levels. Always follow your doctor’s advice about taking vitamin supplements.

How do I take it?
You can ask your doctor to test your levels of calcium and vitamin D. Your doctor can help you decide whether you need to add more food rich in these nutrients to your diet or begin taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. They will tell you which dosage of supplements is safe to take.

Supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as rigorously as medicines. It’s important to ask your health care provider for reputable brands and safe doses.

Some supplements may increase your levels of nutrients to toxic levels. It is possible to overdose on vitamins and minerals. Always follow your doctor’s recommendations about supplement doses.

Side effects
Calcium supplements may cause mild side effects such as gas or an upset stomach. Taking too many calcium supplements can cause constipation and kidney stones for some people. At very high levels, calcium may cause confusion, disorientation, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Taking too many vitamin D supplements can cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss. At very high levels, vitamin D can cause kidney failure, irregular heartbeat, and even death. Because vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, taking too much vitamin D can also lead to an overdose of calcium.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Calcium — National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-Consu...

Vitamin D — National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Cons...