Less than half of the people in the United States take daily vitamin supplements. Surprisingly, more than half think vitamins are safe to take, which can account for a higher risk for vitamin supplement toxicity.

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Supplemental nutrients that contain iron are the most toxic, particularly where children are concerned, and where fat soluble vitamins are involved.

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Fat soluble vitamins can stockpile in the body and become toxic. According to the poison control centers in the US, there were 58,622 reports of overdosing on various vitamin supplements in 2007, resulting in 17 adverse outcomes and one death. Out of all reported cases 45,498 of them involved in children less than than 6 years old. Persons aged 6-19 of age accounted for 7,693 reported exposures.

Symptoms of vitamin supplement toxicity:

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A can be obtained from vegetables, liver, egg yolks, fish oil, and margarine. The most common reported symptoms of vitamin A overdose include:

Headache, vision difficulties, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, abdominal discomfort, sluggishness, seizures

Vitamin D:

Vitamin D can be found in fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. You only need ten minutes of sunshine to get the recommended daily requirement. Therefore, caution should be exercised when taking vitamin D dietary supplements. Symptoms of overdose can manifest as:

- Increased serum calcium levels.

- Weakness in the muscles.

- Loss of interest.

- Headache.

- Anorexia.

- Easily irritated nausea/vomiting.

- Bone pain

- Constipation.

- Increased thirst and urination hypertension.

- Heart palpitations.

Vitamin E:

Although this vitamin has it's benefits, there is risk for toxicity when more than what is recommended has been ingested. Signs of higher than normal levels include:

Nausea, gastric problems, abdominal cramping, frequent loose stool, headache, lethargy, easy skin bruising, prolonged bleeding.

Vitamin K:

This vitamin plays an important role in blood clotting. Babies who are given formula can often suffer from problems as can those being given injections for a vitamin K deficiency.

Infants may also present with jaundice, hemolytic anemia, and increased bilirubin levels. Due to this risk, treatment using vitamin k-3 has been discontinued.

While in general your health can be improved with supplements, it is a good idea to seek medical advice first. A good healthy diet will go a long way to eliminating the need for these supplements and a blood test can confirm what is missing from your diet.

Any signs that you are suffering from an overdose should be immediately followed up with a visit to your doctor to avoid serious complications.

What Are the Possible Effects of Vitamin Supplement Toxicity?

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