| There's a very popular saying - 'excess of anything is | | | | A few examples of the risks include: |
| bad' - the same holds true with vitamins also. Although | | | | Vitamin A - an increased risk of broken bones, |
| vitamin supplements are loaded with power, energy | | | | headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, blurred vision |
| and a host of other benefits, but there is a flip side to | | | | and frontal headaches are often the first signs of |
| them also. With vitamin supplements and fortified | | | | toxicity. |
| foods being the in thing nowadays, it is necessary to | | | | Vitamin B6 - loss of feeling in the arms or legs called |
| look at them from the safety angle. | | | | peripheral neuropathy, rapid breathing, burning pain, loss |
| A vitamin pill seems to be the best alternative to a | | | | of muscle coordination, paralysis. |
| missed meal. Weight watchers literally survive on them | | | | Vitamin B2 - turns the urine yellow-orange. |
| by restricting calories while still getting all the nutrients. | | | | Vitamin B1 - rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, |
| Not to mention, the easy availability of these artificial | | | | irregular heart beat, headache, convulsions |
| nutrients. | | | | Vitamin B3 - Signs include skin flushing, itching, |
| Although, these vitamins are recommended by doctors | | | | wheezing, headache, diarrohea, and vomiting. |
| to promote a person's health, but they can have | | | | Vitamin B 9 - central nervous system damage. |
| serious negative repercussions if consumed in excess, | | | | Vitamin D - muscle weakness, headache, loss of |
| because anything can be toxic if consumed more than | | | | appetite, nausea, vomiting, and bone pain. Overdose |
| required. Therefore, it is best to avoid artificial vitamins, | | | | during pregnancy can cause mental and/or physical |
| and try taking the most of nutrients required for the | | | | retardation in infants. |
| body from a well balanced diet, along with adequate | | | | Vitamin E - overdose toxicity symptoms include |
| water intake, rest and exercise. | | | | nausea, headache, fatigue, easy bruising and bleeding, |
| Why overdose of vitamins is dangerous? | | | | double vision and muscle weakness. |
| It is mostly the fat-soluble vitamins that are dangerous. | | | | Vitamin C - high doses can cause diarrohea and upset |
| Water-soluble vitamins - such as the B group vitamins | | | | stomach, and can also cause newborn scurvy. |
| and vitamin C - cannot be stored by the body much, | | | | There is also evidence that taking high doses of |
| so if one takes in more than required by the body, | | | | antioxidant vitamins A, C and E may increase the risk |
| they are simply excreted in the urine. However, the | | | | of cancer. |
| fat-soluble vitamins - A and D can accumulate in the | | | | What to do in case of an overdose? |
| body and lead to toxicity in the body. However, if a | | | | If there is a suspected overdose of a vitamin, don't |
| person takes them cautiously under medical | | | | stop taking it completely and that too immediately. It is |
| supervision, they also as such do not pose danger to | | | | usually suggested to reduce intake to about half of |
| the body if consumed within safe limits indicated. The | | | | current dosage. This is because, the body has |
| only exception, is for a pregnant woman, when large | | | | adjusted itself to handle a large dose of the vitamin, |
| amounts of vitamin | | | | and so if stopped altogether, it could trigger a major |
| A may pose a risk to the developing foetus. As we | | | | deficiency. Try reducing it gradually, and of course do |
| age, our body become less efficient in absorbing the | | | | not forget to consult a doctor. |
| required nutrients from food, making it important to | | | | Vitamins are natural nutrients, and it is best to take the |
| ensure that the right amount of important vitamins and | | | | required amounts from food itself. However, in case of |
| minerals are consumed. On the other hand, old people | | | | certain situations where it becomes imperative to take |
| are more prone to higher levels of toxicity as even | | | | external supplements of a vitamin, it is always best to |
| excess water-soluble vitamins are not excreted | | | | take it in consultation with a doctor. Our body is |
| because the kidneys do not function so well. This is | | | | designed in such a way that it can cope with natural |
| especially important in case of illnesses such as | | | | vitamins and mineral, but the body has not developed |
| diabetes or high blood pressure, since large doses of | | | | any cushion to deal with artificial vitamins, which is why |
| some supplements can interfere with the functioning of | | | | overdosing with many different vitamins can and is |
| some medications. | | | | dangerous. One also needs to be aware of the |
| What side-effects does vitamin overdose lead to? | | | | guidelines for specific supplements (which can be |
| High doses of vitamins over a long period of time can | | | | obtained either from a doctor or from the |
| lead to side-effects. General symptoms include | | | | specifications on the capsule). |
| nausea, vomiting, diarrohea, rapid breathing, rashes are | | | | So, next time before popping a vitamin pill, give a |
| common with any vitamin overdose. Each vitamin also | | | | thought - do you really need it?? |
| has specific symptoms associated with its overdose | | | | |