Vitamins and minerals >>>> Hypervitaminosis

Hypervitaminosis.

It must be remembered that any biologically active agent, if abused, can cause significant damage to health, sometimes even fatal. An overdose of biologically active substances such as vitamins will lead to intoxication of the body and result in a condition called hypervitaminosis. Hypervitaminosis can occur in an acute form with a single intake of excessively large doses of a vitamin or several vitamins by a person, and then its symptoms are similar to those of poisoning. But most often, hypervitaminosis is chronic, that is, it develops gradually and imperceptibly. Such hypervitaminosis can occur when the daily dose of the vitamin is regularly exceeded.

The body knows exactly how much vitamins it needs to maintain certain biochemical processes. Being in the body, vitamins that are not involved in chemical processes disrupt the metabolism of other useful substances. Surplus vitamins are deposited in the organs, utilized by conversion to other chemicals and excreted from the body, but not always. By-products resulting from chemical reactions can remain in the body and also provoke various metabolic disorders.

Signs of hypervitaminosis are completely dependent on the vitamins, the dose of which is too increased, and are associated with distortions of the metabolic process and utilization of excess of this vitamin. Feeling unwell does not always clearly indicate a specific excess of vitamin, but it gives rise to suspect the development of hypervitaminosis.

Several signs characteristic of hypervitaminosis:

headache,
fatigue,
sleep disorders
increased excitability,
unmotivated irritability,
nausea,
lack of appetite,
vomiting
digestive disorders (flatulence, cramps),
constipation or diarrhea
joint problems
hair loss,
itchy skin.

Hypervitaminosis C.

Entering the body in high doses, ascorbic acid enters the bloodstream in the form of dehydroascorbic acid and begins to compete with glucose for transport to cellular structures. And this will lead to an increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood and give an impetus to the development of diabetes. Unbearable doses of vitamin C for the body provoke the complete excretion of this vitamin in the urine, and at the same time the acidity of urine changes, oxalic acid begins to prevail in its composition, which in turn contributes to the development of urolithiasis . Excess vitamin C disrupts the absorption of trace elements such as magnesium and zinc, and increases the blood clotting time.

Ascorbic acid tends to accumulate in organs such as the adrenal glands, spleen, pancreas, thyroid gland, kidneys, liver, posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, and in muscles (including the heart).

Hypervitaminosis B.

An overdose of vitamin B1 inhibits the action of the enzymes cholinesterase and histaminase, which will lead to muscle relaxation, muscle tremors, kidney and liver disorders. It can lead to an allergic reaction and even anaphylactic shock.

Excess vitamin B6 lowers the amount of protein in muscle tissue, has an effect on the nervous system (coordination disorders, decreased sensitivity), causes dizziness, convulsions.

An overdose of folic acid (vitamin B9) will lead to sleep disturbances, increased excitability, convulsive syndrome, irritability, and digestive disorders.

An overdose of vitamin B12 can lead to allergies, peripheral vascular thrombosis, pulmonary edema, heart failure.

Hypervitaminosis A.

Excess vitamin A most often affects the condition of the skin and liver, and also causes fetal malformations in case of pregnancy. A harbinger of hypervitaminosis A can be carotenemia - an overuse of foods containing carotene. This gives the skin an orange tint. This is a reversible condition, it is enough to stop eating fruits and vegetables containing provitamin A (carotene). The situation is more complicated with the severe consequences of an overdose of vitamin A, when the liver suffers - the organ that stores the excess of vitamin A in the body. This will lead to toxic liver damage. The skin, too, will not be able to painlessly survive the increased level of vitamin A, increased keratinization, various dermatoses, itching will develop, and hair follicles will begin to collapse.

Hypervitaminosis E.

An overdose of vitamin E will affect the biochemistry of neutrophils and other phagocytes, have a toxic effect on platelets, intestinal, kidney and liver cells. Will cause necrosis and sepsis.

Hypervitaminosis D .

An excess of vitamin D causes disturbances in calcium-phosphorus metabolism, which leads to hypercalcemia (increased calcium in the blood), calcification of various organs (deposition of calcium salts). To a greater extent, calcium is deposited in the kidneys, muscles (including the heart), the walls of blood vessels, cartilaginous tissue, and the walls of housing and communal services. Hyperphosphatemia also develops (an increase in the concentration of phosphates in the blood), which will lead to the deposition of phosphorus in the tissues (new ossification sites are created, a disease of the enamel of the teeth appears - fluorosis). An excess of calcium and phosphorus in the tissues causes a new round of the disease - these trace elements are washed out from the bones, which will inevitably lead to osteoporosis. In addition, excess vitamin D lowers the concentration of potassium and magnesium.

Hypervitaminosis D will “hit” the cells of the nervous system, thymus, liver and kidneys.

Hypervitaminosis K.

Excess vitamin K in the body will lead to the destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), increased blood bilirubin, nuclear jaundice.

Those who are keen on vitamin therapy should know that self-administration of vitamin preparations to oneself can easily lead to hypervitaminosis . Since it is rather difficult without tests to determine exactly what specific vitamin the body needs (hypovitaminosis), in what doses it is necessary to take the vitamin, and whether it can be taken at all, with a number of certain diseases in the anamnesis.