Too much of certain vitamins can have serious consequences, and taking too little can also be detrimental to your health. It is essential to comprehend the potential risks associated with taking too much or too little of a certain type of vitamin. Excessive selenium intake can lead to hair loss, gastrointestinal disorders, fatigue, and mild nerve damage. Taking more than necessary costs more and may also increase the risk of side effects.
For instance, too much vitamin A can cause headaches and liver damage, reduce bone strength, and cause birth defects. Too much iron causes nausea and vomiting and can damage the liver and other organs. Cases of deaths due to vitamin toxicity have been reported, although they are extremely rare. Manufacturers can add vitamins, minerals and other supplement ingredients to the foods you eat, particularly breakfast cereals and beverages.
As a result, you may be consuming more of these ingredients than you think, and more may not be better. While there's no evidence that natural niacin causes harm, too much niacin in fortified foods or supplements has been linked to harmful effects. The risk assessment for pregnant women was based on multiple cohort and case-control studies on the effects on fetal development caused by excessive vitamin A intake. Adverse effects of zinc intake on copper levels in a 1989 study with 18 women who took daily supplements of 50 mg of zinc for 10 weeks.
Short-term flushing effects in a 1938 study of 6 people who took a daily dose of 30 to 50 mg of nicotinic acid for 13 weeks. The possible harmful effects are of great concern in the case of nutrients whose daily value indicated on nutrition labels is close to or exceeds the maximum tolerable intake level for young children (IOM 200). Selenium baseline and effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on prostate cancer risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not determine if dietary supplements are effective before they are marketed.
However, taking megadoses of some water-soluble vitamins can cause potentially dangerous side effects. Both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins can cause side effects when taken in high doses, and some cause more severe symptoms than others. Overall, excessive vitamin levels had no preventive effect and, in some cases, were associated with an increase in deaths from cancer. Keep in mind that these potentially life-threatening side effects are associated with taking exceptionally high doses of vitamins.
It is important to understand the potential risks associated with taking too much or too little of a certain type of vitamin. It is best to consult with your doctor before taking any dietary supplements or making any changes to your diet.
