The Side Effects Of Vitamins: Can You Take Too Much ?

Most people have the perception that “more is better” when it comes to vitamins. Very few people actually accept that vitamins can be overdosed, just like any other medication. The side effects are not visible immediately, and in most cases, when it eventually manifests, the condition is not always attributed to the side effects of vitamins.
The side effects of vitamins can vary considerably. For instance, people consuming large amounts of carrot juice have had their palms acquire a yellow, or orange tone. This may be considered harmless, but this is only the visible component. Other vitamins have, when overdosed, different effects, not always visible, and all the more dangerous for it. What you do not physically see, you do not attend to until it is too late. The overdose of some vitamins in children can even lead to death in extreme cases.

Overdosing on Vitamin C can cause diarrhea and stomach problems. Research has also found that constant overdose can lead to damage of genetic material. There was a time when it was believed to be connected to kidney stones, but currently there is no evidence to support this.

When your skin is exposed to sunlight, the body manufactures Vitamin D. Too much sunlight will not cause an overdose, though, because it is created in an inactive state, only to be activated inside the body as needed. However, excessive Vitamin D supplements can cause damage. Vitamin D is involved in calcium absorption, so an excess could cause excessive calcium absorption, creating deposits in the muscles. This becomes excruciating in later years, but by the time it is discovered, there is little you can do about it.

Other side effects of vitamins, taken excessively, includes liver, kidney, neural, and cardiac problems. Also included are osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and faintness. The list goes on. Taking too much of any one vitamin interferes with the function of another, like an excess of Vitamin A interferes with the function of Vitamin D.

The scary part is the fact that, because you expect to be healthy taking all these vitamins, problems are not noted, or attended to, before it is too late, and the damage cannot be reversed. So next time you take vitamins, stick to the suggested dosage. Your body is a very complex mechanism. Take care of it - it’s the only one you have.