People warned to stop taking vitamin D if they notice specific symptoms

A health expert has issued a warning about the possible side effects from taking too much vitamin D.

Vitamin D is an important nutrient which keeps bones, teeth and muscles healthy throughout the year.

A lack of it can lead to bone deformities in children and bone pain in adults, a condition known as osteomalacia.

For most Brits who aren't able to get vitamin D naturally from the sun, the NHS recommends to take 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D a day.

"Between late March or early April to the end of September, most people can make all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their skin and from a balanced diet," the health service says.

Foods high in vitamin D include fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, cod liver oil, as well as fortified products like dairy milk, plant milks and orange juice.

The NHS advises Brits to take vitamin D supplementation during the less sunny months (Getty Stock Images)

But with one in six people taking supplements, a biomedical scientist says there are certain symptoms you need to look out for, as reported by The Mirror.

"As the NHS encourages vitamin D in winter, many people are reaching for bottles in the darker months and accidentally overshooting, then blaming the fallout on seasonal bugs," Tobias Mapulanga said.

The co-founder of Repose Healthcare noted that symptoms can include 'constant thirst and needing the loo more often, queasiness, tummy pain or constipation, headaches or brain fog, and new aches or cramps'.

The most natural way to get vitamin D is from sunlight (Getty Stock Images)

"The stakes are clear: the right amount supports you, but doubling up can turn a well-meant routine into feeling worse rather than better," he said.

Jana Abelovska, a former Superintendent Pharmacist at Click Pharmacy, also explained to Surrey Live that too much vitamin D can lead to 'hypercalcemia'.

"The best way to get vitamin D is through your diet, supported by supplements like tablets, capsules, gummies or sprays that you use directly into your mouth," the health professional said.

"Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means that it is absorbed into the body along with fat.

Around one in six adults in the UK have low levels of vitamin D (Getty Stock Images)

"This means taking your vitamin D supplement with food that contains some healthy fats, such as nuts or yoghurt, will help your body absorb it much better."

She warned: "Don't take too much vitamin D. Because it's a fat-soluble vitamin, it can build up in your body easier than other vitamins.

"Taking too much vitamin D long term can lead to hypercalcemia, an excess of calcium in the body, which can cause problems with your heart, kidneys and bones."

The NHS advises to consult a doctor if you are unsure about vitamin D supplementation.