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1. Who penned an article -- intended to be an
April Fools’ Day joke -- for the April 1, 1985,
issue of Sports Illustrated about Sidd Finch, a
fictional New York Mets pitching prospect who
threw a 168-mph fastball?
2. Eric Piatkowski, a 1994 first-round NBA
Draft pick for the Indiana Pacers, has his No.
52 jersey retired by what college team?
3. What figure skater from Japan became the
first woman to land a triple axel in the Olym-
pics when she accomplished the feat at the 1992
Albertville Winter Games?
4. Name the Kansas City Chiefs running back
who died while attempting to save three chil-
dren from drowning in a Louisiana pond in
1983.
5. What U.S. swimmer won four medals at the
2012 Paralympic Games in London and was
a contestant on Season 25 of ABC’s “Dancing
with the Stars”?
6. Basketball Hall of Famer “Phog” Allen was
head coach of what college team from 1919-56?
7. South Africa’s senior national rugby team is
commonly known by what name?
(c) 2023 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Answers
7. Th e Springboks.
6. Th e Kansas Jayhawks.
5. Victoria Arlen.
4. Joe Delaney.
3. Midori Ito.
2. Th e Nebraska Cornhuskers.
1. George Plimpton.
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High Doses of Vitamins Lead to
Vitamin Toxicity
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been diagnosed
with vitamin D toxicity, according to the blood
work from a month ago -- my result was 122
ng/mL. I was taking high doses of vitamin D3
in pill form (15,000 IU a day for three years)
bought from a drugstore. I have stopped tak-
ing it, but I need to know how long it will take
to have a normal amount in my body. (Weeks,
months?) Can you shed any light on this
question? I would like to take it again when
my level comes down, but in a lower amount.
Also, by any chance, would the high amount
of D3 in my system have any correlation to a
diagnosis of stenosis of the aortic valve? -- C.I. liquid and pill forms of colonoscopy prepara-
ANSWER: Vitamin D toxicity is not common.
I have seen one case in my career requiring
hospitalization, due to a very high elevation of
the blood calcium level. Vitamin D increases
absorption of calcium from food through the
intestines.
In addition, calcium can come out of bones
in people with very high levels of vitamin D.
With high vitamin D levels, calcium levels
can also become dangerously high. Common
symptoms of very high calcium levels include
constipation, nausea and vomiting, muscle
weakness, kidney stones, and neurological
symptoms, including poor concentration and
fatigue. These symptoms tend to happen at
levels higher than yours, above 150 ng/mL.
Years of high calcium levels can absolutely
cause existing heart valve disease to worsen
quickly.
In cases of acute intoxication from vitamin
March 2023
D, available treatments include steroids and
pamidronate (an injectable medicine similar
to alendronate and other drugs used to treat
osteoporosis), which can quickly bring the
calcium levels back down to normal.
Without this kind of intervention, a vitamin
D level will still come down on its own, only
more gradually. Vitamin D3 is removed slowly
from the body, because it can go into fat tissue.
It takes about two months for half the excess
to be removed from the body, but because the
active forms are removed more quickly, toxic-
ity from excess vitamin D3 usually only lasts
for weeks, not months. Still, you are likely not
to need any vitamin D for many months, and
if you do take it again, do not exceed the safe
dose of 5,000 IU a day. I recommend you also
get your blood levels tested. Recent studies
have questioned the benefit of supplemental
vitamin D for most people, although some
people, such as those with osteoporosis and
low vitamin D levels, probably still benefit.
I’m very glad you wrote. Many people still
don’t know that excess of some vitamins can
occasionally be dangerous. Vitamin A is the
other vitamin where high levels can be very
dangerous.
***
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 67-year-old
female who has been unable to tolerate both
tions. Therefore, my gastroenterologist has
been unable to complete a colonoscopy on me.
What are my other options? -- F.K.
ANSWER: I would consider an alternate form
of colon cancer screening. Home stool tests
look for blood and DNA for colon cancer, or
both. The data on Cologuard (a commonly
available brand) show that it isn’t quite as good
as a colonoscopy, but much better than not
receiving a screening. However, if the result
is positive, you will certainly need additional
testing, which calls for preparation, possibly
requiring you to get the preparation done un-
der supervision.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer
individual questions, but will incorporate
them in the column whenever possible. Read-
ers may email questions to ToYourGood-
Health@med.cornell.edu.
(c) 2023 North America Synd., Inc.
All Rights Reserved