Clipping Board » Dangerous Medicinal Tonics ─ Nutrients should be moderate in the body—excessive supplementation only becomes a burden.
【China Times Health / Huang Manying / Changhua Report】2010.11.01
A male infant, after switching to a more advanced infant formula at six months old, was given bone broth as a supplement by his grandmother, who was concerned about his slow height growth. She also added a vitamin D3-fortified calcium powder to his three daily meals. Unexpectedly, this led to excessive vitamin D3 levels in the baby's blood and triggered kidney stones.
Dr. Cai Yijin from the Pediatric Department of Changhua Christian Hospital stated that the infant was admitted to the intensive care unit at 11 months old due to severe enterovirus-induced myocarditis, accompanied by septic shock. Blood and urine cultures revealed multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. After treatment with immunoglobulins and broad-spectrum antibiotics stabilized his condition, detailed examinations, including kidney ultrasound and CT scans, showed a nearly 1 cm staghorn-shaped stone in the left renal pelvis, a stone in the lower ureter, and concurrent hydronephrosis. Blood tests indicated elevated phosphorus levels, while urine tests showed high calcium levels. Additionally, although parathyroid hormone levels were normal, the vitamin D3 hormone concentration in the blood exceeded the normal range, suggesting vitamin D3 overdose as the cause of the kidney stones.
After consultation with the urology department, percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopic lithotripsy were performed, along with the placement of a double-J stent. Follow-up ultrasounds confirmed no residual stones or hydronephrosis, and the patient was discharged successfully. Dr. Wang Baifu from the Urology Department of Changhua Christian Hospital noted that the infant had 1.4 cm stones in both the kidney and ureter, which were completely removed via minimally invasive endoscopy, leaving only a 0.7 cm wound. Ultrasound examinations before and after discharge confirmed normal kidney function.
The infant’s mother reported that after six months, solid foods were introduced once at breakfast and lunch, with dinner being irregular. After the first fever, the baby developed worsening full-body rashes, and dermatological treatment proved ineffective. Family members advised a hospital check-up, which revealed a urinary tract infection. Later, under Dr. Cai Yijin’s follow-up, the kidney stones were discovered.
Dr. Cai explained that the infant initially showed signs of a urinary tract infection during the first fever, and kidney ultrasound detected calcification. Later, the child was hospitalized again for fever and severe enterovirus, during which the kidney stones grew to about 1 cm. Blood tests showed elevated vitamin D3 levels, and urine tests indicated increased calcium and phosphorus, which typically signal stone formation.
Upon detailed medical history review, it was found that after switching to a more advanced infant formula at six months, the grandmother had been supplementing the baby’s diet with bone broth and vitamin D3-fortified calcium powder. This was likely the primary cause of the vitamin D3 overdose and subsequent kidney stones. Scientific studies indicate that long-term excessive vitamin D intake can accumulate in the body, leading to central nervous symptoms like headaches and vomiting, as well as hypercalcemia and calcification deposits. Currently, most advanced infant growth formulas already contain vitamin D3. Parents of infants under one year old are advised to consult pediatricians before using calcium or other nutritional supplements and avoid self-administering such products.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=1,17& id=12089
Long-term Calcium Powder Feeding Nearly Causes Fatal Kidney Stones in Infant
A male infant, after switching to a more advanced infant formula at six months old, was given bone broth as a supplement by his grandmother, who was concerned about his slow height growth. She also added a vitamin D3-fortified calcium powder to his three daily meals. Unexpectedly, this led to excessive vitamin D3 levels in the baby's blood and triggered kidney stones.
Dr. Cai Yijin from the Pediatric Department of Changhua Christian Hospital stated that the infant was admitted to the intensive care unit at 11 months old due to severe enterovirus-induced myocarditis, accompanied by septic shock. Blood and urine cultures revealed multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. After treatment with immunoglobulins and broad-spectrum antibiotics stabilized his condition, detailed examinations, including kidney ultrasound and CT scans, showed a nearly 1 cm staghorn-shaped stone in the left renal pelvis, a stone in the lower ureter, and concurrent hydronephrosis. Blood tests indicated elevated phosphorus levels, while urine tests showed high calcium levels. Additionally, although parathyroid hormone levels were normal, the vitamin D3 hormone concentration in the blood exceeded the normal range, suggesting vitamin D3 overdose as the cause of the kidney stones.
After consultation with the urology department, percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopic lithotripsy were performed, along with the placement of a double-J stent. Follow-up ultrasounds confirmed no residual stones or hydronephrosis, and the patient was discharged successfully. Dr. Wang Baifu from the Urology Department of Changhua Christian Hospital noted that the infant had 1.4 cm stones in both the kidney and ureter, which were completely removed via minimally invasive endoscopy, leaving only a 0.7 cm wound. Ultrasound examinations before and after discharge confirmed normal kidney function.
The infant’s mother reported that after six months, solid foods were introduced once at breakfast and lunch, with dinner being irregular. After the first fever, the baby developed worsening full-body rashes, and dermatological treatment proved ineffective. Family members advised a hospital check-up, which revealed a urinary tract infection. Later, under Dr. Cai Yijin’s follow-up, the kidney stones were discovered.
Dr. Cai explained that the infant initially showed signs of a urinary tract infection during the first fever, and kidney ultrasound detected calcification. Later, the child was hospitalized again for fever and severe enterovirus, during which the kidney stones grew to about 1 cm. Blood tests showed elevated vitamin D3 levels, and urine tests indicated increased calcium and phosphorus, which typically signal stone formation.
Upon detailed medical history review, it was found that after switching to a more advanced infant formula at six months, the grandmother had been supplementing the baby’s diet with bone broth and vitamin D3-fortified calcium powder. This was likely the primary cause of the vitamin D3 overdose and subsequent kidney stones. Scientific studies indicate that long-term excessive vitamin D intake can accumulate in the body, leading to central nervous symptoms like headaches and vomiting, as well as hypercalcemia and calcification deposits. Currently, most advanced infant growth formulas already contain vitamin D3. Parents of infants under one year old are advised to consult pediatricians before using calcium or other nutritional supplements and avoid self-administering such products.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=1,17& id=12089