Worldwide, this disease is relatively uncommon ranging from 1 to 80 cases per 100,000 people. The relationship to vitamin D is that in this condition large amounts of Calcitriol are produced bypassing the typical regulation controls.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease where granulomas (small clusters of immune cells) form in various organs, particularly the lungs and lymph nodes. In sarcoidosis, activated macrophages in these granulomas can convert Calcifediol to its active form, Calcitriol, independent of the body’s D3 regulation. This can lead to hypercalcemia (elevated calcium levels) and hypercalciuria (elevated calcium in urine). Hypercalcemia is an often cited reason for vitamin D toxicity. Clearly, in this case sarcoidosis is too blame and not vitamin D since the disease bypasses the regulatory mechanisms.