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Millions of people around the world take various vitamins and supplements every day to improve their condition and take care of their health. And although the instructions on the packaging clearly state how much preparation we can safely take, it is even common practice to take more, just in case and with the hope of a better and faster effect. Can vitamins be overdosed? Although they are available in every supermarket, if taken in larger amounts, they can be dangerous to your health. As our grandmothers used to say: too much is unhealthy.
Don’t go overboard with vitamins
Poles are eager to buy over-the-counter vitamins, supplements and other health-enhancing agents. Unfortunately, as in the case of other areas of life, we very often assume that the more the better and we do not follow the dosing recommendations of a given preparation. We want better, faster and more efficiently. It seems to us that the more beneficial vitamins we provide, the better our body will function, but this is a misconception.
Taking too much of certain nutrients can be dangerous and has side effects. If you are wondering if vitamins can be overdosed, the answer is yes, you can. Find out what is happening to your body when you give it an excess of certain ingredients.
Each product approved for use has a detailed label. In addition to the dosage instructions for the preparation most often related to age or body weight, it contains information on the so-called Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) or Reference Daily Amount (RDA). These terms are used interchangeably and mean how much of a given substance can be consumed in a day. However, keep in mind that in addition to the supplement or product you are taking, we provide plenty of nutrients in our food, and some foods can be extremely rich in vitamins and minerals. Therefore, before starting supplementation, make sure you need it.
Further part below the video.
Fat and water soluble vitamins – how do they differ?
Vitamin and vitamin unequal. Whether a substance can be easily overdosed and what consequences its excess will bring to the body largely depends on how the substance is processed. Vitamins can be divided into water or fat soluble.
Water-soluble vitamins are more easily excreted from the body with urine, while fat-soluble vitamins are stored more easily. To a large extent, the way a particular substance is metabolized depends on whether its excess can seriously harm.
Welcome water-soluble
The vitamins that dissolve in water include, among others vitamin C and B vitamins are easily excreted from the body in the urine and are not stored in the tissues. There are more water-soluble vitamins than fat-soluble vitamins.
Since water-soluble vitamins are not stored, overdosing is less likely to cause health problems. However, taking very high doses of some of these vitamins can lead to potentially dangerous side effects.
Taking very high doses of vitamin B6 can lead to it becoming irreversible over time nerve damage and taking large amounts of niacin – usually in excess of 2 g per day – can cause liver damage.
Side effects of an overdose of water-soluble vitamins
While not all vitamins have noticeable toxicity at high doses, they can interact with medications and interfere with blood tests. Therefore, be careful when taking all dietary supplements. The potentially dangerous vitamins in high concentrations include:
- Vitamin C
Although vitamin C has relatively low toxicity, high doses of it can cause it gastrointestinal disturbances including diarrhea, cramps, nausea and vomiting. It can also cause migraines.
- Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Overdosing on niacin can lead to formation high blood pressure, abdominal pain, visual impairment and liver damage.
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Long-term, excessive consumption of vitamin B6 can cause it severe neurological symptoms, skin changes, photosensitivity, nausea and heartburn.
- Vitamin B9 (folate, folic acid)
Taking too much folic acid in supplement form can affect the deterioration of mental function, negatively affect the immune system and mask a potentially severe vitamin B12 deficiency.
Keep in mind that these are side effects that healthy people may experience when taking high doses of vitamins. People with health problems may experience even more severe overdose reactions. People suffering from haemochromatosis (iron storage disorder) may suffer fatal heart problems as a result of an overdose of vitamin C, while a healthy person is unlikely to experience any side effects.
Side effects of an overdose of fat-soluble vitamins
Since fat-soluble vitamins can accumulate in the body’s tissues, they can cause much more damage when taken in high doses. Particular danger is when taking vitamins for a long time.
In addition to vitamin K, which has a low toxicity potential, the other three fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, E, and D) have potentially harmful effects at high doses.
Here are some side effects associated with excessive consumption of fat-soluble vitamins:
- Vitamin A
Vitamin A toxicity or hypervitaminosis can occur from the consumption of excess vitamin A-rich foods, but these conditions are mainly caused by taking supplements. Symptoms include nausea, increased intracranial pressure, coma and even death.
- Vitamin D
This inconspicuous and eagerly consumed vitamin can be harmful if we do not follow the recommended doses. Vitamin D overdose can lead to dangerous symptoms, including weight loss, loss of appetite and cardiac arrhythmias. It can also raise blood calcium levels, which can lead to organ damage. Before starting supplementation, check if you are suffering from a deficiency. At Medonet Market you can buy a home vitamin D level test – a cassette test.
- Vitamin E
Vitamin E supplements in large doses can disrupt blood clotting, cause hemorrhages and lead to hemorrhagic stroke.
Although vitamin K has a low toxicity potential, may interact with some medicationssuch as warfarin and antibiotics.
Can you fatally overdose on vitamins?
In rare cases, taking very high doses of vitamins can lead to fatal complications. Vitamin A overdose can cause increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure, coma and potentially fatal organ damage. Taking very high doses of vitamin D over a long period of time can lead to high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can lead to death. Overdosing on other vitamins can also cause potentially fatal side effects such as liver damage.
Always be cautious and strictly follow both the manufacturer’s recommendations and the recommendations of your doctor.
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- A quiz about vitamins and minerals. The question of vitamin D is one of the more difficult questions!