Too many vitamins can make you sick

Just because vitamins are good for you doesn’t mean more is better. According to HMS, certain nutrients can be damaging when consumed in excessive amounts. Every nutrient has a recommended daily amount (RDA) and an upper intake level (UL), or the most that can be tolerated, but nutrient needs vary among individuals, so it’s important to talk to a doctor in order to find out how much of a certain vitamin or mineral supplement you should take. “Exceeding the RDA is not a medical problem essentially until the UL is reached, and then it can become harmful,” explains Dr. Bruce Bistrian, chief of clinical nutrition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Some vitamins are more risky than others. According to HMS, if you exceed the limit for vitamin C, your body will most likely excrete the surplus. But consuming too much vitamin A, for example, may negatively affect your bone health, cause blood clotting and overstimulate your immune system. And in pregnant women it can lead to birth defects. “Many consumers are spurred to take excessive doses by overenthusiastic news stories on the potential benefits of certain vitamins and minerals,” HMS explains. “Remember, though, that the good news from the latest study may eventually prove true, or it may be refuted by other studies… It’s generally safest to wait for evidence to accumulate before jumping on the supplement bandwagon. Consider the potential risks, possible benefits and costs.”