Increased mortality risk: Consistently high doses of vitamin E supplements (\u2265400 international units (UI)\/day) are associated with an increased risk of death.Cancer risk: Studies have shown that high doses of vitamins A, B6, and B12 may increase lung cancer risk. Vitamin E supplementation in large amounts may cause cancer to recur after radiation treatment.Congenital disabilities: Taking high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy can cause abnormalities in the fetus, including heart and brain damage.Fracture risk: Taking too much vitamin A or vitamin D can lower bone mineral density and increase the likelihood of bone fractures.<\/p>\n
What To Do If You\u2019ve Taken Too Much<\/p>\n
If you think you or a loved one has taken too many vitamins:<\/p>\n
Call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222Call 911 if symptoms are severe (trouble breathing, seizures)Keep vitamins stored safely away from children and pets, stored up high or in a locked box.
\n Fat-Soluble vs. Water-Soluble Vitamins <\/p>\n
Vitamins are classified as either dissolvable in fat (fat-soluble) or dissolvable in water (water-soluble):\n<\/p>\n
Risks of Excess Fat-Soluble Vitamin Intake <\/p>\n
Fat-soluble vitamins stay in the body longer and are more likely to build up and cause toxicity if taken in excess.\n<\/p>\n
Symptoms of too much vitamin A include:\n<\/p>\n
Skin peelingLiver problemsVision lossIncreased pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension)<\/p>\n
Symptoms of too much vitamin D<\/a> include:\n<\/p>\n Excessive urinationSeizuresComaBone fractures<\/p>\n Symptoms of too much vitamin E include:\n<\/p>\n Risks of Excess Water-Soluble Vitamin Intake <\/p>\n Water-soluble vitamins are generally safer than fat-soluble vitamins because they don’t accumulate in the body. If you take too much of these vitamins, your body usually removes them through your urine.\n<\/p>\n Symptoms of a water-soluble vitamin overdose are often nonspecific, meaning they are vague and may not be immediately traced to the vitamin. These symptoms can include:\n<\/p>\n NauseaVomitingDiarrheaSkin rash<\/p>\n Who’s at Risk of Toxicity <\/p>\n Though anyone who takes vitamin supplements may experience vitamin toxicity, some populations are at greater risk:\n<\/p>\n Babies: Breastfed babies may develop excessive vitamin levels if their mothers take vitamin supplements. Infant formulas for premature babies often contain high amounts of vitamin D, which may cause toxicity if they are consumed for an extended period.Children: Many vitamins look like candy or gummies, which makes them especially appealing to children.Pregnant people: High levels of vitamin A in the first trimester of pregnancy can cause heart or brain abnormalities in the fetus or miscarriage.Older adults: Older adults may break down and eliminate substances differently than younger people and may have higher or lower levels of vitamins after a standard dose. For example, older adults may be more likely to experience cognitive problems if they take too much vitamin D.People taking multiple vitamins: You are more likely to take too much of a vitamin if you take a daily multivitamin or another vitamin combination plus a single-ingredient vitamin.<\/p>\n How Much of Each Vitamin Do I Need? <\/p>\n Healthy, nonpregnant people who eat a balanced diet typically do not need to supplement with vitamins. Research shows that most people who take vitamin supplements already get the recommended amounts of vitamins through food.\n<\/p>\n When determining how much of each vitamin you need, consider the amounts you consume in your diet plus any supplements you take (including multivitamins). Food sources include:\n<\/p>\n Vitamin A: Dietary sources<\/a> include dairy, eggs, and fish. The Food and Nutrition Board of the\u00a0National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides the following Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and Upper Limits (ULs) of vitamins for adults:\n<\/p>\n RDAs and ULs of Vitamins for Adults<\/p>\n Vitamin Vitamin A (retinol) Vitamin B1 (thiamin) Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) Vitamin B3 (niacin) Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) Vitamin B7 (biotin) Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Vitamin D (colecalciferol) Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) Vitamin K\u00a0 Folic acid When to Speak With Your Healthcare Provider <\/p>\n Discuss your goals with your healthcare provider if you are considering taking a vitamin supplement. Some things to consider before starting a supplement include:\n<\/p>\n Current vitamin levels: A blood test<\/a> can help clarify whether or not you need to supplement. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements the way it regulates prescription medications. As a result, some supplement products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label. When choosing a supplement<\/a>, look for products independently tested or certified by organizations such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)<\/a>, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)<\/a>, or ConsumerLab.com<\/a>. For personalized guidance, consult your healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.<\/p>\n Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process<\/a> to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.<\/p>\n Nicolov M, Cocora M, Buda V, et al. Hydrosoluble and liposoluble vitamins: new perspectives through ADMET analysis<\/a>.\u00a0Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(11):1204. Published 2021 Nov 4. doi:10.3390\/medicina57111204<\/p>\n Kennedy M. The vitamin epidemic: What is the evidence for harm or value?<\/a>\u00a0Intern Med J. 2018;48(8):901-907. doi:10.1111\/imj.13976<\/p>\n Moses G. The safety of commonly used vitamins and minerals<\/a>.\u00a0Aust Prescr. 2021;44(6):209. doi:10.18773\/austprescr.2021.060<\/p>\n Ronis MJJ, Pedersen KB, Watt J. Adverse effects of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements<\/a>.\u00a0Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2018;58:583-601. doi:10.1146\/annurev-pharmtox-010617-052844<\/p>\n America’s Poison Centers. Poison help<\/a>.<\/p>\n U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 5 medication safety tips for older adults<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ofoedu CE, Iwouno JO, Ofoedu EO, et al. Revisiting food-sourced vitamins for consumer diet and health needs: a perspective review, from vitamin classification, metabolic functions, absorption, utilization, to balancing nutritional requirements<\/a>.\u00a0PeerJ. 2021;9:e11940. Published 2021 Sep 1. doi:10.7717\/peerj.11940<\/p>\n Chawla J, Kvarnberg D. Hydrosoluble vitamins<\/a>.\u00a0Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;120:891-914. doi:10.1016\/B978-0-7020-4087-0.00059-0<\/p>\n Taylor PN, Davies JS. A review of the growing risk of vitamin D toxicity from inappropriate practice<\/a>.\u00a0Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;84(6):1121-1127. doi:10.1111\/bcp.13573<\/p>\n Lam HS, Chow CM, Poon WT, et al. Risk of vitamin A toxicity from candy-like chewable vitamin supplements for children<\/a>.\u00a0Pediatrics. 2006;118(2):820-824. doi:10.1542\/peds.2006-0167<\/p>\n Abadie RB, Staples AA, Lauck LV, et al. Vitamin A-mediated birth defects: a narrative review<\/a>.\u00a0Cureus. 2023;15(12):e50513. Published 2023 Dec 14. doi:10.7759\/cureus.50513<\/p>\n Drenth-van Maanen AC, Wilting I, Jansen PAF. Prescribing medicines to older people\u2014how to consider the impact of ageing on human organ and body functions<\/a>.\u00a0Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2020;86(10):1921-1930. doi:10.1111\/bcp.14094<\/p>\n Khan UH, Mantoo S, Dhar A, et al. Vitamin D toxicity presenting as altered mental status in elderly patients<\/a>.\u00a0Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32654. Published 2022 Dec 18. doi:10.7759\/cureus.32654<\/p>\n Zhang FF, Barr SI, McNulty H, et al. Health effects of vitamin and mineral supplements<\/a>.\u00a0BMJ. 2020;369:m2511. Published 2020 Jun 29. doi:10.1136\/bmj.m2511<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin A and carotenoids: fact sheet for health professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Niacin: fact sheet for health professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C: fact sheet for health professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D: fact sheet for health professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin E: fact sheet for health professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academies. Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes, Vitamins<\/a>.<\/p>\n Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academies. Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Tolerable Upper Intake Levels, Vitamins<\/a>.<\/p>\n Freese R, Lysne V. Niacin – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023<\/a>.\u00a0Food Nutr Res. 2023;67:10.29219\/fnr.v67.10299. Published 2023 Dec 12. doi:10.29219\/fnr.v67.10299<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Pantothenic acid: fact sheet for health professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Britt RB, Brown JN. Characterizing the severe reactions of parenteral vitamin K1<\/a>.\u00a0Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2018;24(1):5-12. doi:10.1177\/1076029616674825<\/p>\n Hofstede H, van der Burg HAM, Mulder BC, et al. Reducing unnecessary vitamin testing in general practice: barriers and facilitators according to general practitioners and patients<\/a>.\u00a0BMJ Open. 2019;9(10):e029760. Published 2019 Oct 7. doi:10.1136\/bmjopen-2019-029760<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary supplements: what you need to know<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nVitamin B3: Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is found in meats like chicken, beef, and fish.
\nVitamin C: Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C.
\nVitamin D: The body makes vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. Some fish contain vitamin D, and many other foods are fortified<\/a> with it.
\nVitamin E: Dietary sources include nuts, seeds, and oils.<\/p>\n
\nRDA
\nUL
\nMain Side Effects<\/p>\n
\nMales: 900 micrograms per day (\u03bcg\/d)
Females: 700 \u03bcg\/d
Pregnancy: 770 \u03bcg\/d
Lactation (breastfeeding): 1300 \u03bcg\/d
\n3,000 \u03bcg\/d
\nSkin peeling, liver problems, vision loss, pressure in the brain (intracranial hypertension)<\/p>\n
\nMales: 1.2 milligrams per day (mg\/d)
Females: 1.1 mg\/d
Pregnancy and lactation: 1.4 mg\/d
\nUnknown
\nWeakness, irritability, trouble sleeping<\/p>\n
\nMales: 1.3 mg\/d
Females: 1.1 mg\/d
Pregnancy: 1.4 mg\/d
Lactation: 1.6 mg\/d
\nUnknown
\nStomach pain, diarrhea<\/p>\n
\nMales: 16 mg\/d
Females: 14 mg\/d
Pregnancy: 18 mg\/d
Lactation: 17 mg\/d
\n35 mg\/d
\nLiver damage, skin flushing or burning, hypotension (low blood pressure)<\/p>\n
\nPregnancy: 5 mg\/d, 6 mg\/d
Lactation: 7 mg\/d
\nUnknown
\nDiarrhea, upset stomach<\/p>\n
\nMales:\u00a01.3-1.7 mg\/d
Females: 1.3-1.5 mg\/d
Pregnancy: 1.9 mg\/d Lactation: 2 mg\/d
\n100 mg\/d \u00a0
\nNerve pain (peripheral neuropathy)<\/p>\n
\nAdults: 30 \u03bcg\/d
Lactation: 35 \u03bcg\/d
\nUnknown
\nCan affect thyroid function tests<\/p>\n
\nAdults: 2.4 \u03bcg\/d
Pregnancy: 2.6 \u03bcg\/d
Lactation: 2.8 \u03bcg\/d
\nUnknown
\nNausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypertension (high blood pressure), slow heart rate, anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)<\/p>\n
\nMales: 90 mg\/d
Females: 75 mg\/d
Pregnancy: 85 mg\/d
Lactation: 120 mg\/d
\n2,000 mg\/d
\nDiarrhea, kidney stones<\/p>\n
\nAdults: 15-20 \u03bcg\/d
Pregnancy and lactation: 15 \u03bcg\/d
\n100 \u03bcg\/d
\nThirst, excessive urination, seizures; falls and bone fractures in older adults<\/p>\n
\nAdults: 15 mg\/d
Lactation: 19 mg\/d\u00a0
\n1,000 mg\/d
\nExcessive bleeding, stroke<\/p>\n
\nMales: 120 \u03bcg\/d
Females: 90 \u03bcg\/d
\nUnknown
\nAnaphylaxis, cardiac or respiratory arrest with injectable forms <\/p>\n
\nAdults: 400 \u03bcg\/d
Pregnancy: 600 \u03bcg\/d
Lactation: 500 \u03bcg\/d
\n1,000 \u03bcg\/d
\nStomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea<\/p>\n
\nDiet: You only need small amounts of vitamins. Most healthy people get these by eating a variety of plant- and animal-based foods.
\nHealth conditions: If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on a restrictive diet, or have other medical conditions, discuss vitamin use with a healthcare provider to be sure you are taking the correct dose and that it’s safe for you.<\/p>\n![\"Megan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/meganhs11-0550977a84f84b89966cf1799ce2bfb1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n