Vitamins are organic compounds categorized as essential nutrients. They are required by the body in very small doses and fall in the category of micronutrients. They do not yield energy directly into the body but enable it to use other nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, lipids and amino acids to meet its daily energy requirement. They cannot be synthesized by the body and need to be taken through diet. A well balanced diet usually supplies the vitamin needs of a healthy person in an adequate quantity. There are 2 types of vitamins – fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) and water soluble vitamins (B group of vitamins and vitamin C) It is necessary to take vitamins in the recommended doses on a daily bases to enhance the overall well being of the body and prevent the development of any deficiency syndromes.
Recommended daily allowance (RDA) is defined as the amount of nutrients sufficient for the maintenance of health in nearly all people. This recommendation is estimated to meet the requirements of almost all healthy people.
On the one hand, where vitamins help increase the efficiency of most bodily functions, they can prove to be extremely fatal if taken in a high overdose. Therefore,
vitamin overdoses must be strictly avoided in order to prohibit them from interfering with the normal body reaction.
Effects of Vitamin Overdose
A vitamin overdose can lead to a number of side effects such as toxicity, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heart beat, increased blood pressure, restlessness, anxiety disorders, depression, numbness, burning or itching, sensitivity to light (Vitamin B2), hyperuricemia, hepatic abnormalities, peptic ulcers, liver damage, elevated blood glucose level (Vitamin B3), kidney and gall stones (Vitamin C) etc. Before taking any vitamin supplement it is recommended that you consult a registered medical practitioner in order to determine if the vitamin is required by you or not. A Vitamin overdose can lead to a series of side effects that may prove extremely harmful for the body. Before ingesting any of these nutrients you must make a note of your medical condition and any ailments you might be suffering from such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney stones, depression etc. Pregnant and nursing women should take additional precautions while taking any vitamin supplements and monitor their intake from time to time in order to avoid excessive doses.
Vitamin Overdoses
Vitamin A overdose – An excessive intake of retinol causes vomiting, nausea, anorexia and related sleep disorders followed by skin desquamation, enlarged lever and papillar oedema. High intakes of carotene may color plasma and skin. High amounts of vitamin A can also result in teratogenic effects.
Vitamin D overdose – Vitamin D is stored in the body in fatty tissues and in the lever. An excessive intake is harmful and may result in anorexia, vomiting, nausea, increased thirst and indigestion. The patient may lapse into Coma, while cardiac arrhythmias and renal failure may appear. The effects are due to hypercalcemia induced by increased intestinal absorption and mobilization of calcium from bone. Pregnant women may need to consult a doctor before taking vitamin D as high doses may result in the development of hypercalcemia in the utero.
Vitamin E overdose – It is known to have a cytotoxic effect on human lymphocytes in vitro at high concentration.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) – High doses of the vitamin can result in nausea, toxicity, dizziness, irregular heart beat and gastro intestinal disorders.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – Extremely high doses of this vitamin can result in numbness, prickling sensation, burning, itching and sensitivity to light.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – Large doses of this vitamin may result in hyper uricemia, hepatic abnormalities, itching, peptic ulcers, liver damage and elevated blood glucose levels.
Vitamins might be great for the body but they too, have side effects when taken in extremely high doses. Too much of everything is bad and vitamins are no exception to this. Mega doses of vitamin B6 result in nerve damage, which may be irreversible. Certain vitamins can lead to the development of brain tumor, gall and renal stones, liver damage and cancers. Pregnant women must refrain from taking exceptionally high doses of vitamin A, as it may harm the fetus.
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