Yes, your body needs calcium.
But can you get too much of a good thing?
Abbey Littlejohn
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body.
Photo:Abbey Littlejohn
You probably already know you need it for strong bones and teeth.
So if some calcium is good, more must be better, right?
It is possible to have too much of a good thing.
Can consuming too much calcium cause hypercalcemia?
What Is Hypercalcemia?
The average adult requires about 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day.
Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir are the richest sources of calcium in our diets.
it’s possible for you to also get smaller amounts from broccoli, edamame and calcium-fortified cereals.
Too much calcium can be extremely dangerous (more on this soon).
And your body knows it!
So, it works hard to keep blood calcium levels in a very tight range.
Together withvitamin D, PTH carefully regulates calcium levels in your body.
It can also be helpful to know that most of us dont consume enough calcium in the first place.
Supplements, however, might be another story.
Thats because they often contain larger amounts of calcium than youd get from foods.
It may also lead to muscle weakness and twitching.
Because hypercalcemia can impact the brain, it may make you feel confused.
At the extreme, hypercalcemia may even cause dangerous heart arrhythmias.
As for hypercalcemia, complications from this rare condition are unlikely.
Treatment may be more complex.
Treatment will be aimed at whatever is causing your hypercalcemia, she adds.
Treatment depends primarily on the cause of hypercalcemia.
Its important to uncover the underlying cause of hypercalcemia and treat it appropriately.
The majority of people who have mild PHPT or hypercalcemia due to a treatable cause have a good prognosis.
Excessive calcium intake or vitamin D toxicity are generally treated by stopping the supplement and increasing fluid intake.
As rare as hypercalcemia is, if you think you might have it, dont ignore it.
A person should see their primary care provider if they suspect they may have hypercalcemia, says Bains.
Untreated hypercalcemia can lead to severe complications, therefore early diagnosis and intervention are important.
At the extreme, this may lead to a rare condition called hypercalcemia.
Hypercalcemia is characterized by high levels of blood calcium and is usually triggered by an underlying health condition.
However, too much calcium from supplements can lead to kidney stones.
So, if youre taking or considering a calcium supplement, be sure to speak with your doctor.
But if youre healthy and your diet is packed with naturally calcium-rich foods, keep up the good work!
Frequently Asked Questions
Hypercalcemia has several symptoms.
Most causes of hypercalcemia are due to an underlying medical condition.
While rare,vitamin D toxicity(also known as hypervitaminosis D) can lead to hypercalcemia over time.
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Office of Dietary Supplements.Calcium - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
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Sadiq NM, Anastasopoulou C, Patel G, et al.Hypercalcemia.
StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
National Library of Medicine.
Walker M, Shane E.Hypercalcemia: A Review.JAMA.
2022;328(16):1624-1636. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.18331
Vakiti A, Anastasopoulou C, Mewawalla P.Malignancy-Related Hypercalcemia.
StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
National Kidney Foundation.Calcium oxalate stone - Causes, prevention, treatment.
2021;9:13. doi: 10.5414/CNCS110414
