The belief that more is better is held by some people.

Although it may be true that optimal vitamin intake and supplementation is not necessary for some activities and health circumstances, it is still beneficial.

The majority of Americans believe that vitamins are safe, and this can lead to taking too many vitamins as people don’t think that there is any risk involved.

Getting too much of certain vitamins can lead to an overdose, which can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

This is not the case with many vitamins; you can safely take a multivitamin that covers 100% of the daily value for all vitamins and minerals. The daily value for vitamins and minerals is set by the Food and Drug Administration for the general population.

But there are some nutrients to be careful with…

What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are tiny nutrients that the body needs in small amounts to perform vital functions. Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble. The water-soluble vitamins include the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, while the fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E, and K. When compared to water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues and are eliminated much more slowly.

What are Fat-Soluble Vitamins?

Vitamins A, D, E, and K are stored in the body for long periods and can build up to toxic levels more easily than water-soluble vitamins. You will not become toxic by eating a normal, well-balanced diet. However, taking vitamin supplements that contain large doses of vitamins A, D, E and K may lead to toxicity.

While diseases caused by a lack of fat-soluble vitamins are rare in the United States, symptoms of mild deficiency can develop if there are inadequate amounts of vitamins in the diet. Some health problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis, may decrease the absorption of fat, and in turn, decrease the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. Speak with a medical professional if you think you may have a health condition that prevents your body from absorbing vitamins.

Common Vitamins and Vitamin Overdose Symptoms

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for many things in the body, including vision, immune function, and reproduction. Vitamin A serves several important functions in addition to aiding in the eye’s adjustment to light changes. These functions include promoting bone growth, tooth development, reproduction, cell division, gene expression, and regulating the immune system. Vitamin A is essential for the health of the skin, eyes, mouth, nose, throat, and lungs. It helps keep these tissues moist and functioning properly. Vitamin A is an important antioxidant that may help prevent certain cancers.

Vitamin A supplementation may help you avoid needing reading glasses by supporting the function of the human eye, but taking too much vitamin A can be fatal.

An overdose of vitamin A is usually a slow process as it builds up in the body, since it is a fat-soluble vitamin and is stored in your fat cells. At first, an overdose of vitamin A may not seem very serious, with symptoms like dry skin, chapped lips, and hair loss.

The later symptoms of vitamin A overdose may include irritability, headache, a high level of liver enzymes in the blood, and liver disease. An acute vitamin A overdose is an overdose that happens quickly, in addition to a slow progressing vitamin A overdose.

A vitamin overdose that results in vomiting, high pressure in the brain, and death is far more serious than other types of vitamin overdoses.

Too much Vitamin A

In the United States, it is more of a concern that people have toxic or excess levels of vitamin A, rather than deficiencies. The tolerable upper intake level for adults for vitamin A is 3,000 mcg RAE. Multivitamin supplements containing high doses of vitamin A would be necessary to consume the recommended amount. Retinol is the most toxic form of vitamin A. If the majority of the vitamin A in your multivitamin comes from beta-carotene, it is likely safe. Some acne, psoriasis, and other skin condition medications contain retinol compounds that act like retinol in the body. A diet high in retinol or taking certain medications can impact bone health negatively and cause delayed growth in children and adolescents.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be experiencing vitamin A toxicity: dry, itchy skin; headache; nausea; or loss of appetite. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be overusing your body. Vitamin A toxicity can cause a range of severe problems, including birth defects, bone loss, and hip fractures.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphorous, which are essential nutrients. It increases the amount of calcium absorbed from the small intestine, helping form and maintain bones. Vitamin D is beneficial to the body because it helps to strengthen immunity, control cell growth, and protect against osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cancer, and other diseases. Vitamin D is especially important for children in order to develop strong bones and healthy teeth.

There has been a lot of discussions recently about vitamin D deficiency and the problems it can cause in people. This is because vitamin D deficiency can lead to a number of health problems.

Vitamin D is known as “the sunshine vitamin” because it is primarily responsible for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus in the bones. If you did not have vitamin D, you would be “a softy” – quite literally!

If you don’t get enough calcium and don’t exercise, your bones will become weak and might break more easily.

You can have too much of a good thing when it comes to vitamin D. If you consume too much vitamin D, it can lead to an overdose and permanent damage to your kidneys and heart.

Too much vitamin D can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These effects are usually temporary. An overdose of vitamin D can sometimes cause dangerous abnormalities in heart rate.

A vitamin D overdose during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of mental retardation in babies. The recommended daily requirement of vitamin D is around 1,000 IU, but many doctors believe this is too low and regularly prescribe more to those who are vitamin D deficient.

Too much Vitamin D

The acceptable upper intake level of vitamin D is 100 micrograms (4000 international units) for people aged 9 and over, according to table 2. If you take too many vitamin D supplements or eat a lot of food that’s been fortified with the vitamin, you might get too much vitamin D in your system. That can lead to a buildup of the vitamin in your liver and signs of vitamin D poisoning. The following are signs that one may have too much vitamin D in their system: an excess of calcium in the blood, a decrease in appetite, slowed mental and physical growth, and nausea/vomiting.

It is especially important that infants and young children do not consume excess amounts of vitamin D regularly, due to the fact that their small body size can lead to problems.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps the body by preventing damage to cells. It does this by working as an antioxidant, which protects vitamins A and C, red blood cells, and essential fatty acids from being destroyed. Previous research has suggested that taking antioxidant supplements, like vitamin E, could help to prevent heart disease and cancer. Although it was previously thought that antioxidant and vitamin E supplements provided protection against heart disease and cancer, newer findings show that this is not the case. Many studies have found that eating a diet rich in antioxidants from sources like fruits and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, and several other diseases. Research suggests that to get the most benefits from antioxidants and phytonutrients, you should eat them in the form of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, not as supplements.

Too much Vitamin E

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for vitamin E is the highest level of daily vitamin E intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects in almost all people. Vitamin E obtained from food usually does not pose a risk for toxicity. There is no evidence to suggest that supplemental vitamin E has any added health benefits, so it is not recommended. People who take blood-thinning medications or statin drugs may be in danger if they take megadoses of supplemental vitamin E.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a nutrient that is necessary for the body to clot blood, promote bone health, and produce proteins for various tissues and organs. This vitamin is naturally produced by helpful bacteria in the intestines.

Too much Vitamin K

Excess amounts of vitamin K can cause problems such as the breakdown of red blood cells and liver damage, although there is no specific amount that is considered too much. Vitamin K can affect blood clotting times, so people taking blood thinners or anticoagulants should be careful not to have too much of it. Large doses of vitamin K are not advised.

Vitamin B

We often hear about B vitamins, a group of 8 distinct vitamins that each aid various functions in the body. The vitamin B group can help support the metabolism, promote healthy skin and hair, and help with memory.

If you take too many vitamins from the B group, can you overdose on them?

With some of the B vitamins, unfortunately, yes. A vitamin B6 overdose can cause nerve damage, while too much B3 can cause nausea, jaundice, and liver problems. Having too much folic acid in your system can cover up the symptoms of a B12 deficiency.

So how much is too much vitamin B?

If you take 300 mg of B6, it’s considered to be a risky amount, while 2000 mg of B3 is even more risky. For folate, the Institute of Medicine does not recommend adult men and women consume more than 1000 mg per day. Before taking any vitamin B supplements, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re not taking too much.

Iron

Vitamin overdoses are dangerous, especially for children, and iron is one of the most well-known types. Iron is necessary for red blood cells and the prevention of anemia, but an iron overdose can lead to death. In fact, iron overdose is the leading cause of fatal poisoning in children younger than 5.

This is why we don’t put iron in our gummies. In addition to the iron found in our regular multivitamin formulas, you can also find it in our Men’s, Women’s, and Prenatal formulas.

The best source of iron is from foods that are dark and leafy, like spinach, or starchy and bright in color, like sweet potatoes. Other good sources include whole wheat bread, strawberries, and eggs.

If your healthcare professional tells you that you or your child needs more iron, using liquid iron with a dropper will allow you to control the iron levels. It has no appeal to kids as a treat.

How much is too much iron?

The iron requirements for adults vary depending on their age. This is also true for the amount of daily intake that is recommended for children.

What to do if you suspect a vitamin overdose

If you do not experience any immediate alarm, a vitamin overdose may not be severe. You can reduce or stop taking a daily multivitamin if the health issues are not severe or life-changing.

If you have any concerns for yourself or your family member, you should contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible. The majority of vitamin overdoses occur in children aged six and under.

If you have any symptoms that seem life-threatening, go to the hospital immediately.

Storage of supplements is also important for every household. A product with a Child Resistant Cap is a safer choice.

Vitamins supplements could improve your health if you don’t have any other health problems. The risk of overdose with most vitamins is low, and deficiency is the more common issue that people face.

Even though it is rare, overdose is still a possibility for people who try to correct their deficiency by taking too much of the supplement.

Before taking any vitamins, speak to a healthcare professional to make sure it is safe for you!