What are the side effects of Vitamin D as a steroid?

Question: I know that vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a secosteroid, what are the side effects of using this steroid? My friend is using it because he belives that since it is called "vitamin D" It is essential as a supplement. Despite me explaining otherwise. So i would appricate it if anyone could provide me with details of the bad side effects.

Answers:
Vitamin D is *not* a steroid.

Steroids have a specific chemical structure. Vitamin D does not have this.

In response to your edits...exactly. It is not cyclic, therefore it is not a steroid. Call it secosteroid, call it a molecular precursor to a steroidal ring skeleton, call it whatever. But it's not a steroid. Ring cleavage significantly changes biological/chemical activity. For a few examples that come to mind, check out penicillin (or any analog thereof), any prostaglandin, erythronolide, hirsutene, crown ethers, etc.

But just because it isn't a steroid doesn't mean it's not a bad thing. I would like to add to below comments that any vitamin can cause similar woes when taken in excess.

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"What are the health risks of too much vitamin D?
Vitamin D toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss [59]. It can also raise blood levels of calcium [6], causing mental status changes such as confusion. High blood levels of calcium also can cause heart rhythm abnormalities. Calcinosis, the deposition of calcium and phosphate in the body's soft tissues such as the kidney, can also be caused by vitamin D toxicity [4]. "

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