In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleCausesMultivitamin IntoxicationHow to Prevent ItFAQs
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Multivitamin Intoxication
How to Prevent It
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Although we frequently discuss the importance of working with your doctor to stay on top of—and try to prevent or remedy—deficiencies, therecanbe too much of a good thing when it comes to vitamin and mineral supplements.
Just like eatingtoo much proteinand consumingtoo much fibercan throw your system for a loop, it is possible to overdo it on supplements, whether you pop them as pills, ingest them as powder shaken into water, or score them from fortified foods. (Or a mix of all of the above.)
“Vitamins and minerals are essential compounds found in nature that the body requires for its key functions, including metabolism,” explainsWilliam W. Li, M.D., an internal medicine physician and scientist based in Boston and the author ofEat to Beat Your Diet. “Multivitamins are dietary supplements that contain multiple vitamins, and often minerals like calcium and iron, in order to make it convenient to get recommended doses into the body at once using one pill.”
Multivitaminsare designed to supplement a balanced diet, not replace it. Typically, they provide up to 100% of the recommended daily value for each nutrient, which is adequate for most people, addsPatricia Bannan, RDN, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist and author ofFrom Burnout to Balance.
“Although vitamins and minerals are essential for health, consuming them in excessive amounts can potentially lead to toxicity,” Bannan says.
What Causes Multivitamin Intoxication?
Although toxicity is rare, it’s possible—and according to Bannan, the risk of intoxication depends on three factors:
Multivitamin intoxication is often the result of one of the following supplement mistakes.
Inappropriate Use of Vitamin Supplements
Regardless of whether you do it on purpose or accidentally, “if you take more than the recommended dosage, levels can build up in your body over time,” saysFrances Largeman-Roth, RDN, a Dobbs Ferry, New York-based registered dietitian nutritionist and author ofEveryday Snack Tray.
Taking High Doses of Specific Nutrients over a Prolonged Period
If you happen to consume extra water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C and some B vitamins, your body is usually able to simply pee them out.
“In fact, vitamins like B1, B2, B5, B7 and B12 are considered nontoxic and have no known upper limit because they can be easily eliminated,” Li says.
Still, certain water-soluble vitamins, including niacin (B3) and B6, can cause severe damage when taken in large amounts over time, Largeman-Roth adds, and veryhigh intakes of vitamin Ccan cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Most fat-soluble vitamins (think vitamins A, D, E and K) are a different story, and taking too many of them assupplements can be toxic.These vitamins are stored in your body’s tissue, meaning that high intakes can accumulate in your body’s fat, making them difficult to eliminate from the body, says Li.
The vitamins and minerals of greatest concern are:
Faulty Production or Labeling of Products
“Dietary supplements, including vitamin supplements, are not as tightly regulated as pharmaceuticals. This can lead to production problems like contamination or inaccurate dosing,” Li says.
So, even if you follow the instructions listed on the package, you could inadvertently take too much of a vitamin or mineral, risking toxicity. (This can also lead to unexpected side effects—or no benefit at all.)
“This underscores the importance of buying from reputable sources and looking for independent verification and certification,” Bannan says.
Alwaysresearch your dietary supplementto make sure there are no complaints or FDA actions taken against the product, Li advises, which is a red flag and should steer you away from that product. And before you start taking any new supplement, be sure to consult with your doctor and only invest in products that are independently verified.
Look for a seal on the label from a group likeConsumer Lab,NSF InternationalandUS Pharmacopeia (USP). These are all trusted dietary supplement certification programs to which companies can voluntarily submit their products for testing (and a stamp of approval that they do actually include what’s listed on the label, as well as nothing else that could be dangerous).
The 4 Best Ways to Take Collagen, According to a Dietitian
Can You Die from Multivitamin Intoxication?
Death from vitamin and mineral overdose is extremely rare. However, it can occur if someone consumes very high doses over a short period or consistently overdoses over a long period, according to Bannan. Extremelyhigh doses of vitamin D, vitamin E, and iron, in particular, can be fatal, the experts we spoke to agree.
Usually, you’ll experience a series of symptoms first, which, if not treated, can waterfall into conditions like organ failure or bleeding in the brain before resulting in death.
Warning Symptoms of Multivitamin Intoxication
“The warning signs that someone might have multivitamin intoxication depends on the vitamin or mineral that has been overdosed,” Li says.
Here are the warning signs of potential overdose, according to our experts:
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, or if you believe that you could have taken extreme amounts of certain vitamins or minerals, your doctor should be able to take a blood test to help pinpoint anything that may be “off.” From there, your medical care team can advise you about the best treatment plan, which almost always includes stopping supplements containing the vitamin or mineral of note.
How to Prevent Multivitamin Intoxication
If you follow these pro tips, vitamin and mineral toxicity will be extremely rare:
The Bottom Line
Taking too many vitamins and minerals is a very infrequent issue, but it can happen. And with certain vitamins and minerals, it can be dangerous or even fatal.
For this reason, it’s crucial that “before starting any new supplement, consult with a doctor or a registered dietitian, especially if you have underlying health conditions or take other medications,” Bannan says.
What Happens to Your Body If You Eat Too Many Vitamin Gummies
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you take too many supplements—or happen to consume a multivitamin that’s mislabeled and contains far more than the recommended dose—you can experience toxicity. The symptoms you may experience depend on the levels and types of toxicity.The symptoms of vitamin toxicity vary depending on the vitamin or mineral that has been overconsumed. Some warning signs include vomiting, unusual weight loss, excessive hair loss, confusion and fatigue.The most common cause of vitamin toxicity is consuming too much of certain vitamins and minerals over an extended period of time. If these build up in the body, they can lead to adverse side effects. In severe cases and with a select few vitamins and minerals, overdosing can be fatal.If you take too many water-soluble vitamins, your body will simply excrete the extra through your urine. So, with that in mind, ensuring you’redrinking enough wateris helpful. Avoid taking other supplements or consuming foods that might trigger your body to retain more of the vitamin or mineral of concern (for example, vitamin D and calcium usually travel as a pair). Most importantly, consult your doctor if you’ve taken too much, and they can offer a personalized treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you take too many supplements—or happen to consume a multivitamin that’s mislabeled and contains far more than the recommended dose—you can experience toxicity. The symptoms you may experience depend on the levels and types of toxicity.
The symptoms of vitamin toxicity vary depending on the vitamin or mineral that has been overconsumed. Some warning signs include vomiting, unusual weight loss, excessive hair loss, confusion and fatigue.
The most common cause of vitamin toxicity is consuming too much of certain vitamins and minerals over an extended period of time. If these build up in the body, they can lead to adverse side effects. In severe cases and with a select few vitamins and minerals, overdosing can be fatal.
If you take too many water-soluble vitamins, your body will simply excrete the extra through your urine. So, with that in mind, ensuring you’redrinking enough wateris helpful. Avoid taking other supplements or consuming foods that might trigger your body to retain more of the vitamin or mineral of concern (for example, vitamin D and calcium usually travel as a pair). Most importantly, consult your doctor if you’ve taken too much, and they can offer a personalized treatment plan.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Fat-Soluble Vitamins.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Vitamin K.United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.Third Party Testing Guideance.Anum Asif; Nauman Farooq.Vitamin D Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Kristen N. Owen; Olga Dewald.Vitamin E Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Ho-Wang Yuen; Wenxia Becker.Iron Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Jazmine M. Olson; Muhammad Atif Ameer; Amandeep Goyal.Vitamin A Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Jazmine M. Olson; Muhammad Atif Ameer; Amandeep Goyal.Vitamin A Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Nazia M. Sadiq; Catherine Anastasopoulou; Goonja Patel; Madhu Badireddy.Hypercalcemia. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Fat-Soluble Vitamins.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Vitamin K.United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.Third Party Testing Guideance.Anum Asif; Nauman Farooq.Vitamin D Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Kristen N. Owen; Olga Dewald.Vitamin E Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Ho-Wang Yuen; Wenxia Becker.Iron Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Jazmine M. Olson; Muhammad Atif Ameer; Amandeep Goyal.Vitamin A Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Jazmine M. Olson; Muhammad Atif Ameer; Amandeep Goyal.Vitamin A Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Nazia M. Sadiq; Catherine Anastasopoulou; Goonja Patel; Madhu Badireddy.Hypercalcemia. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Fat-Soluble Vitamins.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Vitamin K.United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.Third Party Testing Guideance.Anum Asif; Nauman Farooq.Vitamin D Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Kristen N. Owen; Olga Dewald.Vitamin E Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Ho-Wang Yuen; Wenxia Becker.Iron Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Jazmine M. Olson; Muhammad Atif Ameer; Amandeep Goyal.Vitamin A Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Jazmine M. Olson; Muhammad Atif Ameer; Amandeep Goyal.Vitamin A Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Nazia M. Sadiq; Catherine Anastasopoulou; Goonja Patel; Madhu Badireddy.Hypercalcemia. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
National Cancer Institute.Fat-Soluble Vitamins.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Vitamin K.
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.Third Party Testing Guideance.
Anum Asif; Nauman Farooq.Vitamin D Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Kristen N. Owen; Olga Dewald.Vitamin E Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Ho-Wang Yuen; Wenxia Becker.Iron Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Jazmine M. Olson; Muhammad Atif Ameer; Amandeep Goyal.Vitamin A Toxicity. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Nazia M. Sadiq; Catherine Anastasopoulou; Goonja Patel; Madhu Badireddy.Hypercalcemia. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
