The Effects of Taking Too Many Vitamins

Vitamins are essential for good health. Our body uses vitamins and minerals to strengthen capillaries and bones, and feed our cells. Without vitamins a person can quickly become malnourished. This will result in bone loss that could lead to osteoporosis and degenerative diseases, like arthritis and even cancer. When children are deficient in essential vitamins tooth decay and other problems can set in. High doses of vitamins are even OK when your body needs a boost, however, taking high doses continually over a long period of time can be harmful. The best way to avoid this is to take whole food vitamins rather than synthetic lab-created vitamins. Whole food vitamins are made from food so it is impossible to overdose.

Cramping and Diarrhea

• Vitamin C is a very powerful vitamin supplement that should be taken in large doses of 500 mg or more daily, however, if you take 2,000-5,000 mg of vitamin C each day this can be too much for the body to handle. One of the major consequences from taking too much vitamin C is severe diarrhea. When the body is fighting a cold or illness your body will use the vitamin C right away and no diarrhea will develop. Yet, when you are taking vitamin C in high doses when it is not needed, you can suffer with stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Liver Damage

• Vitamin A is needed for healthy skin, however, high doses of vitamin A can lead to liver damage. Taking pure vitamin A in doses of 25,000 IU or greater can be toxic. Vitamin A should be taken in the form of beta carotene rather than retinol. Beta carotene is found in carrots and is perfectly safe even in high doses. So if you plan on taking vitamin A supplements, be sure to choose beta carotene.

Kidney Stones

• High doses of calcium and vitamin C can lead to kidney stones. When the body is unable to use or break down all the vitamins consumed, stones can form. Always be sure to take vitamins in moderation and drink plenty of pure water daily. Your body will flush out what you don't need.

Colds

• Iron is needed to boost red blood cell count and maintain healthy blood. However, when iron is taken in large doses (100 mg or more daily) this can interfere with the absorption of zinc and other vitamins. Over time this can affect the immune system making a person more prone to colds and other infections. Women need additional iron, but no more than 40 mg per day on average.

Stomach Ulcers

• Taking high doses of certain vitamins, such as niacin (B3) and B6, can lead to stomach ulcers. The condition is reversible when dosages are cut back, but the symptoms can be quite painful. Stomach ulcers are basically a hole in the stomach that becomes very sensitive and inflamed. Some doctors prescribe high doses of this vitamin temporarily to relieve certain conditions, but it should only be a temporary fix because over the long term high doses can be bad. Doses of 50 mg or more daily are perfectly safe.