Vitamins play a vital role in maintaining good health. The practice of having vitamins through OTC is very common. However, taking vitamins without a doctor’s advice can be harmful. Experts caution against taking vitamins without doctor’s advice and refer this medicinal menace as Hypervitaminosis.

Most commonly used vitamins are A, D, E and B6. According to experts, hypervitaminosis can cause fatigue, irritability, anorexia(less appetite), constipation, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, kidney stones, renal problems, irritability, confusion, slurred speech, unstable gait, dehydration and hypercalcemia.

Vitamin A is an important vitamin in our body. It is important for healthy skin, bones and eyes. But the toxicity can cause yellow discolouration of the skin and may produce bone hypertrophy and ankylosing spondylosis. Overdose or with proper prescription it might even affect the fetal brain and eye development.

“Our bodies are different and each has a unique excretory system. Hence intake and excretion are both important to understand. Knowing your body metabolism is very important. Keeping hypervitaminosis in mind both patient and doctor should think of symptoms with hypervitaminosis in mind. Patients should inform their doctor about the vitamins they are taking and doctors should make sure to ask,” says Dr Yashica Gudesar, Head of Department, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, HCMCT Manipal Hospitals, Dwarka, Delhi.

“This era of increasing body immunity is leading us to the new era of hypervitaminosis. Let’s make proper use of supplements. The easy availability of vitamins should not be a problem causative reason for this syndrome called “Hypervitaminosis,” she added.

Injectables are also being used by doctors. Here a precaution needs to be taken as some patients can start using the medication on their own after a feeling of well-being and not returning to doctor for maintenance supplementation.

Amid COVID-19, Vitamin C is being widely used as an immunity booster. According to the expert, the excess intake may cause nausea, diarrhoea; disruption of the antioxidant balance of body, and leads to iron overload in thalassemia patients.

Vitamin C and B are water-soluble and eliminated from the body quickly but vitamin D, E, K and A are fat-soluble hence become concentrated in the body. Fat-soluble vitamins need fat for absorption and stay in the body for long.

Experts are of the view that Vitamin D toxicity can lead to depression, seizures, and dental problems. It may cause high levels of calcium in the blood and might make bones brittle. High levels of vitamin D may produce re-absorption without parathyroid hormone. With high doses of vitamin E fatigue, weakness, headache and GI disturbances are common. Excess of vitamin K can also cause excess clotting, thrombosis and blood clotting in heart and brain.

Likewise, other vitamins can also be harmful if not taken under proper guidance. Vitamin B 2 and 3 have risk factors. Vitamin B 3, niacin causes Low blood pressure, lightheadedness, liver damage, peptic ulcers and skin rashes, but overdosage causes diarrhoea.

Dr Yashica Gudesar finds Vitamin B 6 is safe but says if taken more than 200 micrograms per day it can cause neurological disorders when taken over a prolonged period. It is usually prescribed over for carpal tunnel and pre-menstrual tension. Excessive doses can cause paresthesia in hands and feet, she adds.

There has been a lot of interest in vitamin supplementation especially among the young population because of their interest in fitness and body-building. However, the expert recommends focusing more on nutritious diets than vitamin supplements. Experts especially warn young, would-be mothers, and elderly who are on multiple supplementations to save themselves against hypervitaminosis.