St. John's Wort & Vitamin D

Caution Absorption
Caution Absorption

St. John's Wort may increase vitamin D metabolism, potentially reducing its effectiveness.

Mechanism

St. John's Wort induces CYP3A4 and CYP24A1, enzymes involved in vitamin D catabolism.

Recommendation

Monitor vitamin D levels if taking St. John's Wort long-term. You may need a higher dose.

Sources

Drug interaction context

Known drug category interactions for these supplements. Especially relevant if you take prescription medications.

Danger St. John's Wort × SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, etc.)

Combining St. John's Wort with SSRIs can cause serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.

NEVER combine St. John's Wort with SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs. Wait at least 2 weeks after stopping an SSRI before starting St. John's Wort.

Danger St. John's Wort × Birth control pills

St. John's Wort reduces the effectiveness of hormonal birth control, potentially causing contraceptive failure.

Use a non-hormonal backup contraceptive method while taking St. John's Wort and for one month after stopping.

Danger St. John's Wort × Warfarin

St. John's Wort significantly reduces warfarin blood levels, potentially causing blood clots.

Do not take St. John's Wort while on warfarin. If already taking both, do not stop St. John's Wort abruptly — consult your doctor.

Check your full stack including medications →

Tolerable upper intake limits

Reference values for safe daily intake of these supplements.

Vitamin D
100.000 mcg (4000 IU)
adults NIH ODS / IOM

Risk of hypercalcemia at very high doses.

Medical Disclaimer: Noyemi provides information from published research for educational purposes only. This content is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Always consult your doctor before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement regimen, especially if you take medications or have existing health conditions.