Family hospitalised after Vitamin D overdose from uncertified cooking oil

What began as a routine family meal turned into a medical emergency for a Rajpura family when four of its members were hospitalised at the PGIMER with severe symptoms of vomiting and weakness. The shocking cause — a cooking oil laced with dangerously high levels of Vitamin D.

The family — a middle-aged couple in early fifties and their two adult sons — had been using a locally available refined oil that promoted itself as beneficial for bone health. However, tests revealed that prolonged consumption of the product led to abnormally high calcium levels, a condition medically known as hypercalcemia.

The situation became critical for the younger son, aged 24, whose calcium levels soared to 800 mg/L, causing damage to his kidneys and requiring emergency dialysis. Doctors at the Department of Endocrinology, PGIMER, where the family was referred, traced the root cause to the cooking oil.

“Lab tests of the oil confirmed excessive Vitamin D — well beyond safe consumption limits,” said Dr Sanjay Bhadada, Head of the Endocrinology, PGIMER. “Vitamin D in high amounts increases calcium absorption and such spikes can lead to organ damage, especially in kidneys,” he said.

Thankfully, all four family members are now in stable condition and responding well to treatment with two being already discharged. The matter has been formally reported to the Health Department to investigate and act against the sale of the product.

Issuing a strong caution to the public, Dr Bhadada, “People should be extremely careful about health claims made by unregulated or local food products. Just because something says it’s good for you doesn't mean its safe. Excess Vitamin D can do more harm than good.”

This incident has once again raised serious questions about food safety regulations and the unchecked sale of fortified products that are not medically verified.