Is It Possible to Overdose on Vitamins?

Many foods on the grocery shelves are fortified with supplements. They are great for the health conscious and those who are busy. Multivitamins are also taken as a compensation for a missed dinner or to ensure dieters are getting the right amount of nutrients. With these fortified foods and multivitamin supplements is it all right to depend on them for what your body needs and is it a good way to limit calories and still get your vitamins?

Let’s look at the safety angle for sources of vitamins and supplemental minerals. First, you should know about the lack of regulation for supplements. More and more manufacturers are adding nutrients to their foods and people are adding them regularly to their diets. Cereal makers add iron to your cereal, vitamin C to candy and sweets, and vitamin A to margarines.

It’s a great idea to use these products to boost your health and be sure of getting proper nutrients. It is possible to overdose on vitamin supplements! The amount you consume is the key. As with any substance you can take more than necessary and it could be toxic to your body. If supplements are taken in the correct amounts, and not combined with other vitamins it isn’t likely that toxicity will occur.

Fat-soluble vitamins such as A and D can be stored in your body but usually will pose no danger to your health if taken within limits. The only exception to this rule is if you are pregnant. Large amounts of vitamin A can be a danger to an unborn child.

Water-soluble vitamins could be more toxic because the excess is eliminated through urination and kidneys may not be efficient enough to handle the excess of vitamins.’

Some supplements may interact with one another and a large dose of one vitamin may decrease the absorption of another vitamin. Normally they won’t interfere with the way they work but before combining supplements you should talk to your doctor, pharmacist or a dietician. You can also stick with the higher quality multivitamins and add any extra vitamins and minerals for your specific needs. This is especially important if you have diabetes or high blood pressure because some vitamin supplements can interfere with the work of your prescribed medications. If you are told to reduce your intake of vitamin, you should start by reducing your dose by half. If you stop the vitamin, you could trigger a deficiency.

The good news is that few deaths are caused by a vitamin overdose. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash are common with a vitamin overdose. Sometimes additives such as the colorings and not the vitamins cause those symptoms. Each vitamin has specific signs for overdose. It is easy to overdose with artificial supplements because our body was not made to tolerate artificial drugs. As long as you are not going too far in taking vitamins and following guidelines for specific supplements, you should be fine with your vitamin and mineral intake.