Supplements That Can Cause Heart Palpitations: Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and More
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6 Supplements That Can Cause Heart Palpitations

6 Supplements That Can Cause Heart Palpitations
Everyday Health
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Updated on August 6, 2025
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Vitamins and minerals help your body function at its best. But too much or too little of a particular nutrient can sometimes cause problems.

Take a fluttering heartbeat, for example. Though rare, certain supplements taken in excess and certain vitamin deficiencies can cause heart palpitations.

If you're experiencing heart palpitations regularly despite eating a balanced diet, talk to your doctor. You could have an underlying condition that affects your ability to absorb certain vitamins or minerals, and you might need a different balance of nutrients to stay well.

1. Calcium

Too much calcium in your blood — a condition called hypercalcemia — can sometimes lead to heart palpitations.

 But heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat from too much calcium is very rare and typically occurs with severe hypercalcemia.
Hypercalcemia can develop if you take high doses of vitamin D or calcium supplements, are severely dehydrated, are immobile for a long period of time, or if you take certain medications (such as diuretics).

 It can also be caused by an underlying condition, such as:
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Cancer
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Tuberculosis
  • A rare genetic disorder called familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia

If you suspect you have hypercalcemia, visit your doctor to get your levels tested and plan your treatment. And if you have an underlying condition that affects your body's ability to process calcium (such as kidney disease), work with your doctor or dietitian to develop a diet plan that's right for you.

If you don't have any health concerns, though, stick to the recommended daily allowance for calcium for your age and sex.

Recommended Dietary Allowances for Calcium

AgeMenWomen
19–501,000 mg1,000 mg
51–701,000 mg1,200 mg
71+1,200 mg1,200 mg

2. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is another supplement that can cause heart palpitations when taken in high amounts.

Doses of more than 4,000 international units (IU) per day every day may lead to this toxicity, and you shouldn’t do this unless you are under a doctor’s guidance and supervision to treat a health condition.

To prevent this issue, adults should stick to the recommended 600 IU of vitamin D per day and 800 IU a day after age 70.

Visit your doctor if you show signs of a vitamin D overdose, which can include:

  • Weakness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Frequent urination

3. Folate

Insufficient folate (also referred to as folic acid or vitamin B9) can result in anemia.

 Anemia, in turn, can cause heart palpitations.

Other symptoms of a folate deficiency may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
If you have concerns about your folate intake, visit your doctor to confirm you have a folate deficiency. If you do, your doctor can recommend the right supplement for you or may suggest adding more natural sources of folic acid to your diet. Some folate-rich foods include:

  • Beef liver, poultry, eggs, and dairy
  • Dark leafy green vegetables
  • Legumes like beans, peas, and lentils
With the help of these foods, aim to get the recommended 400 micrograms (mcg) of folate per day. Aim for 600 if you're breastfeeding a child and 500 if you're pregnant.

4. Vitamin B12

Another vitamin deficiency that can lead to heart palpitations is vitamin B12. Similar to a folate deficiency, a lack of vitamin B12 can lead to anemia and thereby result in heart palpitations.

A vitamin B12 deficiency can develop slowly and is often confused with other conditions, so visit your doctor to determine if you're lacking this nutrient.

 If you do have insufficient vitamin B12, your doctor will likely prescribe vitamins for heart palpitations and other symptoms in a shot or supplement form.
It's also important to make sure you're getting enough of the nutrient if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, since animal products like meat are primary sources of B12.

Vegetarian or not, aim to get 2.4 micrograms of the vitamin per day, and 2.6 if you're pregnant and 2.8 if you're breastfeeding.

 Good sources of vitamin B12 include:
  • Seafood like clams and crabs
  • Beef and beef liver
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Fortified cereal
  • Fortified soy products like tofu, soy milk, and tempeh
  • Dairy products like Swiss cheese, yogurt, and milk

Can Too Much Vitamin B12 Cause Heart Palpitations?

There's no evidence that taking high doses of B12 can cause heart palpitations. But it can lead to other symptoms, including:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Tingling sensation in hands and feet

5. Magnesium

Severe cases of insufficient magnesium can result in cardiac problems like abnormal heart rhythms and coronary spasms.

Magnesium also plays a role in your body's use of vitamin D and calcium, which can likewise contribute to heart palpitations.

Other symptoms of a magnesium deficiency include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness
  • Headaches
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Muscle contractions or cramps

Get the right dose of the nutrient to prevent a magnesium deficiency. That means getting the following daily amounts.

Recommended Dietary Allowances for Magnesium

AgeMenWomenPregnancyLactation
19–30400 mg310 mg350 mg310 mg
31–50420 mg320 mg360 mg320 mg
51+420 mg320 mg

Magnesium-rich foods include:

  • Leafy greens like Swiss chard and spinach
  • Starchy vegetables like potatoes and squash
  • Avocados
  • Beans
  • Salmon

Older adults and people with gastrointestinal conditions and type 2 diabetes are more at risk for severe magnesium deficiency. If you fall into any of those categories and experience symptoms, seek medical care.

6. Potassium

Potassium is an essential mineral and electrolyte that keeps your heartbeat steady.

Too little potassium can result in a condition called hypokalemia, which in severe cases can cause heart-related issues like palpitations and arrhythmias.

Other symptoms of hypokalemia to look out for include:

  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Paralysis
On the flip side, too much potassium in your system — a condition called hyperkalemia — can lead to similar issues.

 In severe cases, it can lead to heart arrhythmias.
Other symptoms include:

  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Weak or irregular pulse
  • Muscle weakness
  • Numbness

People with kidney problems, heart problems, diabetes, and those taking certain medications (like drugs to lower blood pressure) are at increased risk for this health issue.

You can prevent a potassium deficiency or overload by eating the right daily amounts of the mineral:

  • Women: 2,600 mg
  • Women during pregnancy: 2,900 mg
  • Women while breastfeeding: 2,800 mg
  • Men: 3,400 mg

It's best to get your dose primarily through food sources of potassium, like:

  • Leafy greens like spinach
  • Starchy vegetables like potatoes and squash
  • Fruit like apricots and cantaloupe
  • Legumes like soybeans and lentils
  • Fish like salmon and tuna

Severe hypokalemia and hyperkalemia can both be life-threatening. If you experience symptoms, seek medical care immediately.

Other Substances That Can Cause Heart Palpitations

While certain vitamins and minerals can cause heart palpitations, it's much more likely that something else is causing this issue.

Caffeine

"Heart palpitations are a potential concern with supplements containing green tea, guarana, yerba mate, or kola nut — all ingredients that naturally contain caffeine," says Tod Cooperman, MD, the president of ConsumerLab, an independent testing company in White Plains, New York, focused on health and nutrition products.

These ingredients are often combined in weight loss supplements — some of which include straight caffeine, he says. Caffeine and other energizing ingredients like ginseng and taurine may also be in supplements that claim to enhance cognitive function. Energy drinks, which contain stimulants like caffeine, may also cause heart palpitations.

Nicotine

In addition to supplements (especially those that contain caffeine or other stimulants), nicotine in tobacco products can lead to an irregular or fast-paced heartbeat.

Certain Medications

Some medications can make your heart race, including:

  • Asthma medications
  • Decongestants
  • Drugs that control heart rhythm
  • Thyroid medication
  • Some over-the-counter cough and cold medicines

How to Deal With Heart Palpitations

If you notice your heart starting to flutter, review all the medications and supplements you take to see if you can identify a cause, Dr. Cooperman says. "Stop any stimulant and caffeine-containing supplements, including energy drinks," he says.

If it's a prescription drug, over-the-counter medication, or supplement you believe is causing your heart palpitations, ask your doctor about alternatives. And remember — the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn't require supplements to be proven safe or effective before they're sold, so there's no guarantee that any supplement you take is safe, contains the ingredients it says it does, or produces the effects it claims.

Fortunately, a fluttering heartbeat that's infrequent or short-lived is often harmless and goes away on its own. But if you have a history of heart disease and experience palpitations that are occurring more frequently or getting worse, they can be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition. In this case, you should visit your doctor.

Other symptoms that suggest heart palpitations may be a sign of something serious include:

  • Chest pain
  • Fainting
  • Trouble breathing
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

If you experience these issues, visit your doctor to determine the underlying cause and get the right treatment for your condition.

The Takeaway

  • Excessive or insufficient intake of certain nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium, can cause heart palpitations.
  • If you’re taking supplements or have an underlying health condition, such as kidney disease or heart problems, speak with your doctor to make sure your nutrient intake is within safe levels.
  • If you are having heart palpitations along with other troubling symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, seek immediate medical care.
  • Occasional heart palpitations may not be cause for alarm. Ensure that you are getting the right balance of nutrients and eliminate stimulants like caffeine to avoid them.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Vitamin Deficiency Anemia. Mayo Clinic. February 7, 2024.
  2. Hypercalcemia. Mayo Clinic. March 8, 2024.
  3. Calcium. Office of Dietary Supplements. July 24, 2024.
  4. Nutrition and Healthy Eating. Mayo Clinic. February 20, 2025.
  5. Vitamin D. Office of Dietary Supplements. June 27, 2025.
  6. Folate. Office of Dietary Supplements. November 30, 2022.
  7. Folate Deficiency. Cleveland Clinic. December 14, 2021.
  8. Vitamin B12. Office of Dietary Supplements. March 26, 2024.
  9. Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Be Sneaky and Harmful. Harvard Health Publishing. March 23, 2022.
  10. Vitamin B-12. Mayo Clinic. June 28, 2024.
  11. Magnesium. Office of Dietary Supplements. June 2, 2022.
  12. Electrolytes. Cleveland Clinic. September 24, 2021.
  13. Potassium. Office of Dietary Supplements. June 2, 2022.
  14. Hyperkalemia (High Potassium). American Heart Association. June 17, 2025.
  15. Hyperkalemia (High Potassium). Cleveland Clinic. May 11, 2023.
  16. How Do Energy Drinks Affect Your Health? UC Davis Health. May 6, 2024.
  17. Heart Arrhythmia. Mayo Clinic. October 13, 2023.
  18. Heart Palpitations. Mayo Clinic. March 11, 2022.
  19. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. June 2, 2022.
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Michelle Seguin, MD

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Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Michelle Seguin, MD, is a board-certified family medicine, lifestyle medicine, and certified functional medicine physician (IFMCP). She is a practicing physician at Root Functional Medicine, a leading telemedicine practice specializing in personalized, root-cause care.

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