Vitamins that support the body can be dangerous if taken uncontrolled, said the endocrinologist Elena Zhuchkova . In an interview with the Prime agency, she revealed the consequences of an overdose and named the types of vitamins that can harm a person.
According to her, multivitamins, as a rule, do not pose a particular danger due to the balanced composition, while monovitamins have substances that can be harmful if abused.
The expert noted that one of the consequences of an overdose may be hypervitaminosis. “It concerns, first of all, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K. Fat-soluble vitamins are well absorbed and slowly excreted. Hypervitaminosis A and D are harder than others,” she said.
Zhuchkova noticed that the abuse of vitamin D can be indicated by nausea, vomiting, itching of the skin, excess calcium in the human blood and its deposition in soft tissues, organs and blood vessels. It is especially dangerous to exceed the permissible rate during pregnancy, as in the end it can cause fetal pathology and bone disease in children.
Vitamin A hypervitaminosis can cause hair loss, blurred vision, heart and kidney dysfunction. In addition, it can increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers.
Talking about hypervitaminosis E, Zhuchkova noticed that it is rare and can manifest itself in the form of an upset gastrointestinal tract, a feeling of weakness, headaches. An excess of vitamin K, in turn, leads to the breakdown of red blood cells and anemia.
The doctor stressed that an overdose is also possible when taking water-soluble vitamins – for example, B and C – however, for this, the dose taken should be tens and hundreds of times higher than the recommended one. She added that in some preparations, the daily intake of vitamins can be exceeded several times. Such drugs should not be taken without consulting a specialist.
When choosing vitamin complexes, she advised to take a closer look at the composition and pay attention to the percentage of vitamins. The expert also noted that before taking medications, you should discuss them with your doctor.