Can Low Vitamin D Cause Heart Palpitations?

Heart palpitations are common and can be caused by various factors, including anxiety, stress, caffeine, and alcohol. There’s also evidence that low vitamin D levels can contribute to heart palpitations in some people.

Vitamin D plays a vital role in supporting cardiovascular health, calcium balance, and heart muscle function, which may explain why low vitamin D levels can increase the risk of an irregular heartbeat.

Discover the potential connection between low vitamin D levels and heart palpitations and how restoring healthy levels of this essential nutrient can help promote normal heart function.  

The connection between low vitamin D and heart palpitations

Although more research is needed to fully establish the link between vitamin D and heart palpitations, evidence published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences shows that cardiac myocytes, a type of heart muscle cell, contain vitamin D receptors.¹

This suggests that vitamin D levels may play a significant role in supporting normal heart muscle function and maintaining healthy cardiovascular rhythm.

Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium from food. Because calcium plays an essential role in nerve signaling and muscle contraction, low calcium levels may influence how the heart beats. 

This could help explain why individuals with low vitamin D may be more prone to experiencing irregular heartbeat patterns.

Watch the video below to discover one of the best remedies for heart palpitations. 

What are heart palpitations?

Heart palpitations refer to sensations of a rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat triggered by irregular heartbeat rhythms. Some people may feel like their heart is skipping beats or beating too strongly or too quickly.

Palpitations may also be accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath, or a sense of chest discomfort.

Heart palpitations can occur for many reasons, including emotional stress, anxiety, alcohol intake, stimulants like caffeine, and certain medications. 

In some cases, palpitations may be associated with underlying medical conditions such as arrhythmia, heart valve problems, and thyroid imbalances.

How much vitamin D to avoid heart palpitations?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin produced by the skin in response to sunlight. It’s also found in fatty fish, egg yolks, liver, and mushrooms.

Midday sun exposure is one of the most effective ways to boost vitamin D naturally. Research published in eClinicalMedicine found that sun exposure in healthy adults significantly influenced vitamin D status.²

With direct exposure, the body can synthesize thousands of international units (IU) of vitamin D in under an hour. The amount needed varies based on skin tone, age, season, and location, but many experts recommend 10 to 30 minutes of daily sun exposure on uncovered skin.

While the general recommendation for vitamin D3 intake is 600 to 800 IU of vitamin D3 daily for healthy adults, some individuals may require higher intake levels, ranging from 5000 to 20,000 IU, under the supervision of a healthcare provider to help maintain healthy vitamin D levels.

It’s also essential to consider the nutrients that work alongside vitamin D to support heart health.

Vitamin K2, found in aged cheeses and fermented foods, helps direct calcium into bones and teeth and away from tissues. Magnesium, present in leafy greens, seeds, and nuts, helps activate vitamin D, supports muscle contractions, and helps regulate heart rhythm.

As Dr. Berg explains, “Vitamin D is most effective when it’s balanced with K2 and magnesium. These essential cofactors work with vitamin D3 to promote calcium absorption and help guide calcium where it’s needed in the body, promoting cardiovascular health and normal heart rhythms.”

Together, these nutrients promote calcium balance and healthy cardiovascular function. Prioritizing sunlight and whole-food sources of vitamin D3, K2, and magnesium may help support a steady heart rhythm, bone health, and overall wellness.

Can too much vitamin D cause heart palpitations?

While heart palpitations can be caused by low vitamin D levels, high levels of vitamin D may also impact heart function.

Because vitamin D supports calcium absorption, excessively high intake, especially without sufficient vitamin K2, may affect how calcium is managed in the body, including the potential for elevated calcium levels in the blood.

Research published in Fitoterapia notes that calcium imbalances may influence cardiac rhythm by placing stress on heart cells.³

In addition, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that can accumulate in the body over time. This may contribute to calcium imbalances and associated strain on internal organs, including the heart and kidneys. 

Regular blood testing can help monitor serum vitamin D levels and guide safe intake.

It’s important to note that vitamin D toxicity is extremely rare and almost always results from prolonged use of therapeutic-dose vitamin D supplementation, not from sunlight or food sources.

FAQ

Sources

1. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/18/6483 ?
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537022001304 ?
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0367326X23001752 ?