Vitamin Overdose! Learn the Facts

Well, the reason is simple … to clear away all your doubts, and the hypes surrounding it.

I’m putting you face to face with your fear of vitamins (if you have one) due to the repeated on and off bad press, usually one sided, about the negative effects of taking vitamin supplements.

And for those who are currently taking megadoses of vitamins, this is definitely for you, so don't go away! Now do you think “Vitamin Overdose” is a very apt title to kick off my vitamin series?

“A” Vitamin Overdose

Signs of toxicity: Dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss, gingivitis, anorexia, nausea, fatigue and irritability.

For the reasons above, taking straight vitamin A is NOT recommended. Taking its precursor (manufacturer), beta carotene; and the mixed carotenoids on the other hand, is. Beta carotene and mixed carotenoids are very safe and our body is able to turn it into vitamin A as needed.

Some individuals develop a yellowing of the skin called carotenodermia, which is totally benign, when beta carotene is taken in excess. This will reverse completely when it's reduced or discontinued.

Take note if you’re using large dosage of single vitamin, and more so if it’s synthetic! Synthetic vitamins/antioxidants (like synthetic vitamin C, E, and even synthetic beta carotene), unlike natural ones are more likely to cause them to become pro-oxidant, i.e. creating more free radicals!

The best solution is to go for natural and broad spectrum carotenoids.

“D” Vitamin Overdose

Signs of toxicity: Excessive calcification of bone and soft tissue, and increase the risk of kidney stones.

Overdosing of vitamin D could also happen when consuming too much vitamin D-fortified milk, especially in infant formula!

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 326, 1992) revealed that of 42 milk samples, only12% were within the expected range of Vitamin D content.

Testing of 10 samples of infant formula revealed seven with more that twice the Vitamin D content reported on the label, one of which had more than four times the label amount.

Is it a surprise to see how easily we can get too much of a good thing? This blog entry is a must-read. Hopefully it will help clear all your confusion about this vitamin.

How to get the right dose of vitamin D?

A study reveals the better of the two forms of vitamin D below.

Vitamin D2 vs. Vitamin D3

So which form of vitamin D are you taking? Are you getting enough of the FREE “wonder drug”, which has never been reported toxicity from it alone?

Last but not least (this might come as a shock for some), are you also aware that excessive doses of vitamin D can potentially kill?

“E” Vitamin Overdose

This is one fat-soluble vitamin that has a tremendous safety record. But as always, we don’t encourage megadoses … of anything however good they are. Additionally, it’s recommended to a broad spectrum of natural vitamin E, and mixed tocotrienols which are a much more potent form of vitamin E.

On a supplement label, natural vitamin E is listed as d-alpha tocopherol, or d-alpha tocopherol succinate. In contrast, synthetic forms of vitamin E are labeled with a dl- prefix.

If you’re asking, “I'm already taking tocopherol Vitamin E, why should anyone take tocotrienols?” Find the answer to this question in this newsletter (under Ingredients of the Month: Tocotrienols)

And if you’re someone like Juliette who is concern whether the sourced tocotrienols from an area in Malaysia will cause the destruction of Orang Utan habitat? Click the link below to find out.

Palm Oil and Orang Utans

“K” Vitamin Overdose

Reports of toxic effects from vitamin K overdose are rare. Vitamin K overdose may cause hemolytic anemia (separation of hemoglobin from red blood cells) in lab rats as well as infants; and liver damage and should not be used therapeutically.

Ingredient of the Month: Vitamin K2

What, a vitamin K2? You mean there is a vitamin K1, or K3?

Like vitamin D, there are also two main forms of vitamin K; and the one you’re taking is most probably K1. Are there any differences between the two? You bet there are.

And yes, there's a vitamin K3, a synthetic water-soluble vitamin K; it's a former name for menadione sodium bisulfite. I'd suggest you put aside K3 for now.

“B” Vitamin Overdose

Vitamin B’s are thought to be among some of the safest vitamins with relatively low potential for toxicity since they are water soluble; any excess is excreted when you urinate.


Vitamin B1

Overdosing on vitamin B1 is rare, particularly when it is taken orally. However, if injected the amount of vitamin B1 in your body can potentially reach toxic levels.

The symptoms of a vitamin B1 overdose can include nausea, sweating, difficulty breathing and blue colored skin. Getting adequate levels of vitamin B1 from your diet, however, should not be a problem.


Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 overdose can cause flushing to the skin if taken in too high a dose. Taking high dosage of single vitamin B3 as a “natural” and “therapeutic” way to decrease your cholesterol level, however, is NEVER natural.


Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 can be toxic to the nerves and causes muscle unsteadiness if taken at over 300mg per day.

Please note that, unlike the ‘normal’ and cheaper version of B6 (pyridoxine), pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the active form of vitamin B6, is the natural and more bioavailable form and has been available in food since the first man stepped on earth! Yes, pyridoxine may be converted in the body to pyridoxal-5-phosphate but how efficiently or effectively is the question.


Vitamin B12

No toxicity levels have been reported for vitamin B12, and no toxicity symptoms have been identified in scientific research studies.


Folic Acid

No known toxicity have been reported for folic acid as well. But folic acid masking vitamin B12 deficiency? Or folic acid producing side effects when combined with vitamin B12?

If you happen to read these, you can ignore them; as a matter of fact, both folic acid and vitamin B12 (together with vitamin B6) are supportive of each other during the methylation process.

Without methylation you would die in just a few days! This is a strong statement, I know. But ignorance is not bliss here.


The Three B’s and “Methylation”

Probably the most important methylation process is when it is applied to homocysteine! Homocysteine is a by-product of an important amino acid methionine and is what remains when methionine is used to methylate your proteins and DNA.

Homocysteine needs to be methylated to convert it back to methionine. If this process does not happen, be prepared to face the risk of catching a cardiovascular disease.

To summarize, you must have adequate levels of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid to ensure homocysteine stays in a safe range. The key word here is “adequate” not a vitamin overdose.

“C” Vitamin Overdose

Some people may experience abdominal bloating, gas or diarrhea with vitamin C overdose. Vitamin C is considered by many to be safe at even very high dosages … this is one side of the story. The other side, where we stand, we’d prefer to use the word, “safe”, in quotation marks.

“The issue of high dose vitamin C particularly using ascorbic acid is quite a controversial one with many varied opinions.

Our R & D people including Prof.Dr.A Munem Daoud who is our chief researcher and one of the world’s top bio-scientist are adamant that high doses of vitamin C is not a good thing … unless you are ill at which high doses for a short period is fine.

The reason for this is that it reacts in the stomach and amounts in excess of around 400mgs a day of ascorbic acid can actually create free radicals.

In other words it will help mop up free radicals up to a certain level and then over that it will actually generate them.” (Source)


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