Hypervitaminosis

General description of the disease

It is a pathological condition caused by intoxication with a high dose of vitamins. The most common hypervitaminosis A and D.

Hypervitaminosis can be acute or chronic. The acute form of this pathology develops as a result of a one-time uncontrolled intake of a large dose of vitamins and resembles food poisoning in symptoms^[3].

Chronic form occurs with the use of an increased rate of vitamin complexes, including dietary supplements.

Vitamin poisoning is typical for residents of developed countries, where vitamin supplements are in vogue. At the slightest sign of illness, people begin to take shock doses of vitamins without a doctor’s recommendation.

Vitamins can be:

1. 1 water soluble – it is a vitamin complex B and vitamin C. An overabundance of these vitamins occurs in rare cases, since only the amount of vitamins necessary for the body is absorbed into the bloodstream, and the excess is excreted in the urine;
2. 2 fat-soluble – vitamins A, D, K, E, which accumulate in the adipose tissue of internal organs, so their excess is more difficult to remove from the body.

Classification and causes of different types of hypervitaminosis

• vitamin A hypervitaminosis can occur with uncontrolled intake of vitamin-containing preparations and with frequent use of products such as: liver of sea fish, beef liver, chicken eggs, liver of a polar bear and other representatives of the northern fauna. The daily requirement for this vitamin for an adult is no more than 2-3 mg;
• vitamin B12 hypervitaminosis is rare and, as a rule, in the elderly, as a side effect in the treatment of pernicious anemia;
• hypervitaminosis C occurs with the uncontrolled intake of synthetic analogs of vitamin C;
• vitamin D hypervitaminosis occurs with excessive consumption of egg yolks and fish oil, yeast baked goods, and the liver of marine fish. An excess of vitamin D can be a side effect in the treatment of rickets and some skin conditions. An excess amount of vitamin D provokes hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, while the concentration of potassium and magnesium in the body is significantly reduced;
• hypervitaminosis E develops with excessive intake of multivitamins.

Symptoms of hypervitaminosis

Signs of an overabundance of vitamins do not always have external manifestations and depend on an overabundance of a particular vitamin:

1. 1 excess vitamin A manifested by dizziness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, severe and prolonged headache, fever, general weakness, joint pain, bone aches, peeling of the skin. All these signs do not appear immediately, it all starts with a banal headache, then hair loss, rashes resembling scarlet fever, deformation of the nail plates and a decrease in body weight may begin;
2. 2 evidence hypervitaminosis B are not always pronounced, since it is quickly excreted from the body. The patient feels constant weakness, tachycardia and drowsiness, sometimes itching and skin rashes are observed;
3. 3 vitamin C intoxication manifests itself as a violation of the intestines, allergic rashes, irritation of the urinary tract, general malaise. Children may have unreasonable manifestations of aggression;
4. 4 with hypervitaminosis D possibly an increase in muscle tone, damage to the renal apparatus, and also an increase in the content of Ca in the urine and in the blood. Abdominal cramps and lack of appetite are also possible;
5. 5 excess vitamin E lowers blood sugar levels, diffuse headache and increased weakness are possible even with minor physical exertion. Some patients have double vision;
6. 6 vitamin K hypervitaminosis leads to anemic syndrome.

Complications of hypervitaminosis

Uncontrolled intake of vitamin preparations can cause serious complications:

• vitamin A hypervitaminosis can lead to serious bone abnormalities, impaired renal function, liver damage, and destruction of hair follicles. During pregnancy, expectant mothers need to control the dosage of vitamin A, since its excess in the body can provoke irreversible malformations or miscarriage in the fetus;
• long lasting intoxication with B vitamins can provoke problems with coordination, allergic reactions, impaired sensitivity of the limbs. In case of incorrect therapy, irreversible disorders of the nervous system, pulmonary edema, heart failure, vascular thrombosis and anaphylactic shock are possible;
• pronounced hypervitaminosis C in children can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus. An excess of this vitamin in the body reduces blood clotting, provokes hypertension, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism and doubles the risk of kidney stones. Intoxication with vitamin C can provoke infertility, pregnancy pathology and miscarriage. Atrophy of the adrenal glands and serious disturbances in the work of the heart and thyroid gland are also possible;
• with vitamin D intoxication the destruction of cell membranes begins, the deposition of Ca in the internal organs, the development of osteoporosis and calcification of the cornea is possible. One of the most serious complications in this pathology is uremia. Excess vitamin D in the body reduces the concentration of K and Mg in the blood;
• excess Vitamin E can lead to a change in the structure of bone tissue, which is fraught with a tendency to fractures, while the absorption of vitamins A, K, D by the body worsens, and night blindness may develop. Hypervitaminosis E has a toxic effect on kidney and liver cells.

Prevention of hypervitaminosis

To prevent an overabundance of vitamins in the body, you should not prescribe yourself multivitamin preparations on your own. Vitamins should not be taken all year round. It is enough to do this in the autumn-winter period and at the same time a break is required every 3-4 weeks. In spring and summer, it is easier to diversify your diet with fresh herbs, seasonal fruits and vegetables.

It is necessary to deliberately treat the choice of food and the composition of the diet and monitor the vitamin composition. When using vitamin preparations, it is necessary to ensure that large doses of the same vitamins are not ingested with food.

Unfamiliar foods and tinctures should be taken with caution.

Treatment of hypervitaminosis in mainstream medicine

Therapy depends on an excess of a specific vitamin; treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of hypervitaminosis. Regardless of the type of hypervitaminosis, it is necessary:

1. 1 detoxify the body;
2. 2 eliminate the symptoms that accompany hypervitaminosis;
3. 3 adjust the diet and stop taking vitamins.

In case of hypervitaminosis D, in addition to the above methods, in case of severe intoxication, a diuretic and prednisolone can be prescribed.

With hypervitaminosis B, diuretics are also prescribed.

Attention!

The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!