Can Taking Too Many Vitamins Risk Your Health?

Today, there's a pill for just about everything. Visit any grocery store or pharmacy, and you'll find at least one full section of vitamin supplements and herbal treatments. People are popping vitamin supplements right and left, hoping to cure whatever ails them or to keep ailments at bay. But can you take too many vitamins? And what happens if you over-consume certain nutrients? Can you be doing more damage to yourself than if you took no vitamin supplements? Read on and learn if you can take too many vitamins and if over-consuming vitamins does more harm than good.

Can you take too many vitamins? Vitamin supplements aren't all that enjoyable to take. They don't taste that great, which means they're usually popped whole and swallowed with water. So consuming them has to be a deliberate act. Therefore, it's easy enough to use caution and balance. The general rule-of-thumb on taking vitamin supplements is to use moderation. A single good vitamin supplement is preferred over mega-doses.

Does over-consuming vitamins do more harm than good? Taking mega-doses of vitamins has the potential to cause anything from nausea and diarrhea to kidney stones and nerve damage. Also, studies show that high doses of vitamin supplements may increase risk of death.

Is it better to skip vitamin supplements all together? It may not necessarily be better to skip taking vitamin supplements entirely. It depends upon what foods you eat or avoid and whether or not you have a health condition that requires additional supplementation. Some prescription medicine can interfere with nutrient absorption, making vitamin supplementation crucial.

Is there a middle-of-the road with vitamin consumption? Yes, there is. A single multivitamin may offer you all the supplement you need, but mega-doses may prove harmful. Taking one multivitamin supplement offers insurance if you're not eating properly, have a particular medical condition, or you're working your way to eating properly. Too much of a good thing, may not necessarily be such a good thing.

Be careful about popping vitamins as miracle cures. Also, be careful that you don't place all confidence in a vitamin supplement to provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Instead, focus on the real thing--food. Know that high doses of vitamin supplements can be toxic and may be worse for you than if you were to depend upon food alone for your source of vitamins and minerals. Yes, you can over-consume vitamin supplements; thus, as with most things in life--balance is key.

Source:

Beth M. Wicklund, M.D., "Are Too Many Vitamins Bad for Your Health?", ABC News
Are Too Many Vitamins Bad for Your Health?