Hypervitaminosis – Can Vitamins be Dangerous ? What you should know

Hypervitaminosis – Can Vitamins be Dangerous ? Vitamins are substances that in minimal quantities are vital for the maintenance of normal activity and good health of humans and animals, as well as for their proper development. They are not a building block, much less a source of energy, but the body is constantly in need of them.

“Vita” means life!

Vitamins were discovered only in the early twentieth century by Polish scientist Casimir Funk, who managed to isolate from rice a substance that has a beneficial effect on people suffering from beriberi, which severely affects the human nervous system. They call them vitamins – a name associated with their chemical structure.

The presence of an amino group, extremely important for life in general, has been established. Today it is known that these substances regulate the synthesis and activity of cellular enzymes, thus participating in the regulation of all life processes.

The intake of vitamins is important not only for people engaged in active sports, but also for those whose work is associated with hard physical labor. Environmental pollution, for example, requires a steady increase in daily vitamin needs, especially in large cities.

Stress caused by an active lifestyle, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, preservatives, as well as contraceptives progressively increase our body’s need for vitamins. It is a well-known fact that a cigarette can destroy up to 100 mg of vitamin C in the body. If the diet lacks vitamins, the normal course of physiological processes in the body is disrupted.

Pay attention to the dosage of vitamins

Is it possible that an overdose of vitamins leads to intoxication of the body, and is the thesis of Paracelsus, who claims that “All substances are poisonous. Only a dose makes one substance poison or medicine” valid?

For a long time it was considered that vitamins are absolutely harmless substances, the intake of which can be unlimited – and not only that, but did not even pay attention to the characteristics of the individual (age, sex, physiological condition).

The desire to be healthy and strong was associated with the intake of vitamins, a hundred times higher than the physiological daily needs of the body. A process that inevitably leads to a condition known as hypervitaminosis – a pathological condition associated with the intake of vitamins in doses many times exceeding the allowable daily needs and leading to intoxication of the body.

This is the difference with avitaminosis, which is the result of a deficiency of a certain vitamin associated with a violation of normal physiological processes in the body. Attention should also be paid to the fact that the recommended daily dose of vitamins depends on a number of factors such as age, gender and general health.

What can be the consequences of an overdose of vitamins?

Not all vitamins are equally dangerous. Water-soluble vitamins, for example, are more difficult to overdose than fat-soluble vitamins due to the tendency of the latter to accumulate in our bodies.

Hypervitaminosis with vitamin A.

Accumulated excess amounts of vitamin A in the body are usually associated with manifestations of toxicity and a condition known as hypervitaminosis.

Vitamin A overdose can occur in two ways:

  • single use of the vitamin in a dose far exceeding the required daily requirement of the body;
  • at relatively long low doses.

Particularly at risk are young children, in whom the intake of this vitamin should be with caution, as well as people who consume alcohol in high doses, in whom the absorption of the vitamin is increased, respectively its toxicity. Manifestations of vitamin A toxicity are associated with the following symptoms:

  • change in the density of the bones of the skull, protruding fontanelles (babies and young children);

  • increased intracranial pressure;

  • blurred vision;

  • bone pain and drainage of adjacent tissues, decreased bone density, which can subsequently lead to osteoporosis;

  • decreased appetite;

  • dizziness;

  • changes in consciousness;

  • double image, especially in young children;

  • drowsiness; headache;

  • liver damage;

  • nausea with subsequent vomiting;

  • hair loss;

  • yellowed and flaky skin.

Hypervitaminosis with B vitamins

Overdose of B vitamins is associated with the appearance of severe allergic symptoms, very often leading to shock, as well as a number of neuropsychiatric disorders (eg vitamin B6, which leads to:

  • tingling in the limbs;
  • appearance of pain when moving;
  • presence of epileptic seizures;
  • insomnia;
  • disturbance in the rhythm of the cardiovascular system;
  • liver damage.

Hypervitaminosis with vitamin C.

Increased intake of one of the most popular and frequently taken vitamins, especially during the flu season, can rarely lead to any serious consequences for the body.

High doses of vitamin intake, leading to some pathological condition of the body, are associated with:

  • disturbance in the processes of bone formation;

  • anemia;

  • impaired metabolism;

  • stomach upset;

  • potential danger to women of childbearing age;

  • there is also a risk associated with the absorption of excess iron in the body due to relatively high doses.

Hypervitaminosis with vitamin D.

Vitamin D is synthesized in the human body under the influence of sunlight, and the good news is that there is no danger of toxicity with prolonged sun exposure. On the other hand, taking excessive amounts of vitamin D can lead to health problems.

This process is especially characteristic of young children and is usually the result of the need to take the vitamin associated with growth processes. It is often due to the intake of supplements, such as cod liver oil.

Excess vitamin D in the body leads to unusually high levels of calcium in the blood, resulting in a real risk of damage to bones, kidneys and soft tissues.

Therefore, the additional intake of vitamin D must be consulted with a specialist in the field. Symptoms of toxicity observed in overdose are the following:

  • constipation;
  • decreased appetite and weight loss (anorexia);
  • dehydration;
  • muscle weakness;
  • high levels of calcium in the blood; vomiting;
  • fatigue;
  • irritability

Hypervitaminosis with vitamin E.

When the amount of vitamin E supplied to the body is greater than the daily requirement, an increase in blood pressure is usually observed. This vitamin can in some cases play the role of an anticoagulant, which means that there is a possibility of increasing the risk of blood clotting problems.

Caution in this case should be taken by patients taking warfarin, who should not take vitamin supplements without the consent of their doctor. Taking the highest dose of vitamin E or the so-called upper limit is unlikely to lead to blood clotting problems.

And yet beware of or look for vitamins in your diet?

As much as we want, vitamins are not the miracle cure for everything. It is true that they are necessary for the development and vitality of the whole human body, but in markedly minimal amounts. Some of them regulate chemical processes, others are part of the enzymes needed for cell metabolism, and others directly affect the functioning of the body.

On the other hand, increased physical activity and the intake of proteins and carbohydrates significantly increase the daily needs for vitamins. This means that in such cases other vital substances are needed – minerals. Increased intake of vitamins requires the appropriate amount of minerals, because if the minerals are in a reduced amount, then the vitamins are not able to fully meet the needs of the body.

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