The Danger of Vitamin Overdose

Vitamins are subdivided into two major groups; the water-soluble vitamin, C and the B complex, and the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, F and K. The danger of excess consuming of the fat soluble vitamins has long been known. These cannot be exerted, but rather are stored (as the name implies) in the fatty tissues, where they may build to toxic levels. More recently, evidence has begun to accumulate that vitamin C in doses above 2 to 4 grams may cause kidney problems and may increase the body’s need for vitamin C in pregnant women.

For these reasons, a word should be said about the danger of overdosing with vitamin supplements. Vitamin supplements can be of great help to persons who suffer from a deficiency of a particular vitamin or vitamins. But although vitamins are necessary to health, taking more of them is not necessarily better for you. Consumed is large doses, vitamins are properly considered drugs, not nutrients, and overdoses of the fat-soluble vitamins can cause illness or even death.

How much vitamin C do you need?
The controversy over vitamin C has lingered since publication in 1970 of Linus Pauling’s book Vitamin C. the Common Cold, and the Flu. In this book Pauling presented his theory that vitamin C would bouth prevent and cure common colds. After an initial flurry of interest and a great deal of profesional criticism, dozens of attemps were made to either confirm or deny these claims. To date, result are still inconclusive. What is of great concern, as mentioned earlier, are the possible side effects of the massive doses recommended by Pauling. Even though vitamin C is water soluble, so the excess amount would ordinarily be exerted in the urine, the amounts involved here buildup may occur, resulting in diarrhea, kidney or bladder stones, or grout.