British man nearly hospitalized after taking 400 times the recommended daily amount It reiterates the serious dangers of taking over-the-counter vitamins and supplements in unsafe doses. It is a rare but potentially serious condition that occurs in Catherine Zeratsky, RD, LD“Vitamin D toxicity is usually caused by high doses of vitamin D supplements, not by diet or sun exposure. This regulates the amount of vitamin D your body produces from sun exposure.” because even fortified foods do not contain significant amounts of vitamin D.”
So what happens when you take too much vitamin D supplements? “The primary consequence of vitamin D toxicity is the accumulation of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can lead to nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination.” “Vitamin D toxicity can progress to bone pain and kidney problems, including calcium stone formation. Treatment includes stopping vitamin D intake and limiting calcium in the diet. Your doctor may also prescribe intravenous fluids and medications such as corticosteroids and bisphosphonates.”
Adequate amounts of vitamin D are essential for good health. “It has long been known that vitamin D is important for bone health.” Marci A. Goolsby, MD says“One of the roles of vitamin D is to help the intestine absorb calcium and phosphorus from the diet. These minerals help build and maintain bone strength. When it’s low, it’s associated with stress fractures and other problems.But vitamin D has many other functions.I describe it to my patients as a delicate symphony of everything going on in your body. If one of the instruments – in this case your vitamin D – is switched off, it can ruin the whole symphony.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, the official recommended daily dose of vitamin D is:
life stage recommended amount
Up to 12 months 10mcg (400IU)
Children 1-13 years old 15 mcg (600 IU)
15 mcg (600 IU) for teens ages 14-18
Adults 19-70 years 15 mcg (600 IU)
Adults 71+ 20 mcg (800 IU)
15 mcg (600 IU) for pregnant and lactating teens and women
Vitamin D is not the only vitamin that can cause serious health problems if administered incorrectly. Here are five other supplements that can make you sick if you don’t follow the recommended daily dose. Read on.To protect your health and that of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You Already Have COVID.
Adults should not take more than 2000 mg of vitamin C per day.
Pros: “Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid (AA), is first and foremost an electron donor.” Bogdan Popa, M.D., says“This means it can directly donate electrons to act as an antioxidant. Acting as an antioxidant helps neutralize harmful free radicals, acts as a cofactor, and reduces iron and copper.” It can also donate electrons to enzymes containing , which is a critical step in maintaining these enzymes’ “activity.” Enzymes that use vitamin C as a cofactor have far-reaching effects on our energy levels, structural integrity, and DNA. ), involved in the production of collagen, supply of L-carnitine and norepinephrine. There are also interesting studies on the effects of Vitamin C and fasting in the treatment of some cancers.
Cons: “Too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps,” says the NIH. “In people with a condition called hemochromatosis that causes the body to store excess iron, high doses of vitamin C can exacerbate iron overload and damage body tissues.” Foods can interact with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.Does vitamin C have the unwanted effect of protecting tumor cells from cancer treatments, or does it damage normal tissues? It is not clear whether it helps prevent
Adults should not consume more than the tolerable upper intake level of 40 mg of zinc per day. The recommended daily intake is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women.
Pros: “Zinc is a trace mineral. Your body needs a tiny amount, but almost 100 enzymes are needed to carry out important chemical reactions.” harvard health says“Zinc plays a major role in making DNA, growing cells, building proteins, healing damaged tissue, and supporting a healthy immune system. Adequate zinc is needed during childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy. Zinc is also involved in the senses of taste and smell.
Cons: “Yes, too much zinc can be harmful” According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH (National Institutes of Health). “Too much zinc can cause nausea, dizziness, headache, upset stomach, vomiting, and loss of appetite. problems such as low blood pressure, low HDL levels, and low cholesterol, and low copper levels. Excessive use of zinc-containing denture creams, well beyond what the label recommends, can lead to excessive zinc intake and copper deficiency. It can cause neurological problems such as numbness and weakness.
The recommended daily amount of iron for adults is 8 mg for men and 18 mg for women, with a maximum of 27 mg for pregnant women.
Pros: “Iron is an essential element in the production of blood.” UCSF Health says“About 70% of the body’s iron is found in the red blood cells of the blood, called hemoglobin, and in muscle cells, called myoglobin. Hemoglobin is essential for moving oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the tissues and muscles. Myoglobin in cells is responsible for , storage, transport, and release of oxygen. About 6% of the body’s iron is a building block of certain proteins, essential for respiration and energy metabolism, collagen and some neurotransmitters. as building blocks of enzymes involved in the synthesis of .immune functions.”
Cons: “Iron ingestion is no longer the leading cause of poisoning deaths, but it is not uncommon and can be a fatal toxicological emergency.” University of Utah HealthIn 2020, 4,688 cases of iron ingestion (as iron or iron salt preparations) were reported to US poisoning centers, 2004 of which were in children under 5 years of age. In 2020, there were approximately 8,800 individual intakes of multivitamin preparations containing iron. By interfering with oxidative phosphorylation and free radical formation, iron can cause direct damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa, vasodilation, and impairment of cellular metabolism in the heart, liver, and central nervous system. Iron toxicity is dependent on the amount of elemental iron ingested, and the amount of elemental iron varies by product.Patients ingesting 20-60 mg/kg of elemental iron may develop nausea and vomiting. > 60 mg/kg with high risk of severe toxicity and death. “
The NIH recommended daily omega-3 intake is 1.6 g for men and 1.1 g for women, increasing to 1.4 g during pregnancy.
Pros: “You may have heard a lot about the benefits of fish oil supplements for heart health.” pen health says“While research has shown that fish oil supplements may provide A few benefits to A few people with A few When it comes to heart health issues, the real source of these cardiovascular health benefits comes from a family of polyunsaturated fats called omega-3 fatty acids. Here’s what you need to know about fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and heart disease. The most consistent evidence for omega-3s and heart health is their ability to lower triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood and stored as body fat. High levels of triglycerides are associated with fat buildup in the walls of arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.”
Cons: “Very high doses of fish oil can suppress the immune system and have blood-thinning effects.” says Todd Cooperman, M.D.“In people taking high concentrations of prescription fish oil, ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and certain liver enzymes rise, and atrial fibrillation or episodes of atrial flutter may occur in people who already have this arrhythmia disorder.” Cod and other fish liver oils are rich in vitamins A and D and can be toxic in high doses. For example, too much vitamin A can damage the liver. Too much vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood), which can lead to symptoms such as constipation, confusion, weakness, and loss of appetite. Although fish oil is not thought to adversely affect blood sugar levels in diabetics, one study found that high intakes of relatively small amounts of krill oil were associated with increased intake of EPA + DHA (230 mg and 154 mg, respectively). showed a significant decrease in insulin sensitivity in overweight middle-aged men, which may increase the risk of diabetes and aerobic exercise. vascular disease. “
The recommended daily intake for adults is 400mcg Amount of dietary folate equivalent (DFE) up to 600 mcg in pregnant women.
Pros: “Folic acid is a natural form of vitamin B9 that is water soluble and found naturally in many foods,” says Harvard Health. “It is also added to food and sold as a supplement in the form of folic acid. This form is actually better absorbed than it is from food sources, 85% vs. 50% respectively. Folic acid plays an important role in breaking down homocysteine, an amino acid that can have detrimental effects in the body if present in large amounts. It is also required to produce healthy red blood cells and is important during periods of rapid growth such as pregnancy and fetal development.”
Cons: “Unfortunately, many prenatal supplements contain 800 mcg or more of folic acid, which is double the recommended amount for supplements.” Dr. Cooperman says“And that’s not all. Folic acid is absorbed much better than folic acid from food (about 70% better). That’s 1,360 mcg DFE equivalent when you take a prenatal supplement with 800 mcg folic acid.” Plus, many manufacturers put in extra folic acid (30% or more is not uncommon), which is why some supplements list 800 mcg of folate from folic acid. , it is quite possible that they are giving the equivalent of about 1,800 mcg of folic acid, which can cause kidney damage and can complicate the diagnosis of vitamin B-12 deficiency (folic acid supplementation is It can mask the symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Of particular concern for pregnant women is excessively high blood levels of folic acid (>59 nmol). 10% of women exceeded this level.
