Too much vitamin A/vitamin C

CathyS205
CathyS205 Posts: 20 Member
edited October 6 in Food and Nutrition
I am trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, but I've been noticing that when I do I go way over on vitamin A and vitamin C on my nutrients list. Is this bad? Today I was more than 200 over on both. -235% on Vitamin A and -204% on Vitamin C. How big of a problem is this?

Replies

  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    I go over most days. I wouldn't worry about it. Vegetables and fruits are good for you!
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    Vitamin A is fat soluble, so it is possible to overdose since your body can't rid itself of it as easily as water soluble vitamins. You're not too over, so it shouldn't be a big issue though :D
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    Vitamin A is fat soluble, so it is possible to overdose since your body can't rid itself of it as easily as water soluble vitamins. You're not too over, so it shouldn't be a big issue though :D

    The downside of "overdosing" on vitamin A is that having too much stored in your body can make your skin look orange. But we're talking multiple pounds of carrots per day to achieve that. Vitamin C is air soluble, so no worries there.
  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    You would need a lot of Vitamin A for that to happen. It's something like 25,000 IU per day over a long period of time.

    Seriously, don't worry about it.
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    Water-soluble vitamins aren't stored, so VitC won't be a problem. Fat-soluble vitamins can be toxic, but you have to take in over 10x the RDA for it to be a problem. Not real easy to do unless you're in the habit of eating polar bear liver.
  • TXchris
    TXchris Posts: 54 Member
    Vitamin C is water soluble so what your body can't use simply flushes right on through. Vitamin A on the other hand is fat soluble meaning it stores in fat cells. It can build up and become potentially dangerous but in much higher amounts than you are talking about. Typically it is a problem only when you are getting in the range of 500% or more daily over EXTENDED periods of time. People who are in that range get an orange tint to the skin and will often develop itching. Occasionally you will see babies who go through a period of this when first introduced to baby food and are eating only carrots and squash. Once they move on to more of a variety it resolves. Prolonged exposure to extremely high amounts can cause serious complications; however it is very, very rare for this to happen just through a healthy diet. Generally this is seen with supplement overdose.
  • CathyS205
    CathyS205 Posts: 20 Member
    Yeah, no polar bear liver for me... Thank you all.
  • springfield5780
    springfield5780 Posts: 33
    Water-soluble vitamins aren't stored, so VitC won't be a problem. Fat-soluble vitamins can be toxic, but you have to take in over 10x the RDA for it to be a problem. Not real easy to do unless you're in the habit of eating polar bear liver.

    Polar bear liver Nom...nom...nom
  • mahidac
    mahidac Posts: 126 Member
    for reference to overdose on vitamin A you would need to eat an entire polar bears liver - its an insane amount, you aren't going to go over from have a few more fruits and veggies throughout the day
  • mahidac
    mahidac Posts: 126 Member
    Water-soluble vitamins aren't stored, so VitC won't be a problem. Fat-soluble vitamins can be toxic, but you have to take in over 10x the RDA for it to be a problem. Not real easy to do unless you're in the habit of eating polar bear liver.

    ah sorry double post - didnt see this
  • lougru
    lougru Posts: 55
    If you are taking any meds that contain high levels of vitamin A then please be careful because you CAN overdose on vitamin A. I know from experience and the side effects are not nice.
  • Maggie_Pie1
    Maggie_Pie1 Posts: 322 Member
    Not real easy to do unless you're in the habit of eating polar bear liver.

    Oooh dinner idea for tonight! Thanks!
  • mahidac
    mahidac Posts: 126 Member
    high levels of vitamin A are also not great if you are pregnant
  • Sweet_Potato
    Sweet_Potato Posts: 1,119 Member
    I was just wondering this becuase there are at least a couple days a week where my vitamin A levels are at 300-400%.
  • Larius
    Larius Posts: 507 Member
    The 100% USDA recommendations for these vitamins are the bare minimum required to prevent serious deficiency diseases such as scurvy. A higher amount is required for optimal health, but those values are not nearly as thoroughly studied.

    Vitamin A from vegetables is in the form of carotenoids which are far less toxic than animal derived vitamin A known as retinoids. If your vitamin A is primarily coming from vegetables, the worst that can happen is orange skin.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypervitaminosis_A

    *I am not a doctor, but I play one on MFP.
  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    I have days where mine is at 700%. Yesterday mine was at 830%. Please, stop worrying folks. You are fine. Continue eating vegetables and fruit.
  • DizzieLittleLifter
    DizzieLittleLifter Posts: 1,020 Member
    It's rare to get toxicities from food sources of vitamins. People taking supplements of these vitamins are a greater risk. If you know you get an adequate amount of a certain vitamin via food you should be sure that you are NOT taking a supplement of said vit.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I usually get 2-3,000% vitamin c as I take 2-3 emergen-c's a day. No problems!

    I do believe you can overdose on vitamin a, d, k, and e which can be life threatening. But it takes A LOT.
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