We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Vitamin overload

TarrynnVigh
TarrynnVigh Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I am newly vegetarian and I eat a lot of fruits and veggies. Lately some of my vitamins have been like 52%-400% over my daily limit! Just wondering if that's an actual problem or am I going to be okay?

Replies

  • autumnblade75
    autumnblade75 Posts: 1,661 Member
    edited May 2015
    I googled this for you. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/nutrition-vitamins-11/fat-water-nutrient?page=1


    Interesting tidbit: If you are ever trapped in Alaska with only the carcass of a polar bear to eat, you'll want to avoid the liver as it contains so much vitamin A that it will be toxic to humans.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • TarrynnVigh
    TarrynnVigh Posts: 2 Member
    Thank you both! Very helpful :)
  • autumnblade75
    autumnblade75 Posts: 1,661 Member
    The article I googled says that water-soluble vitamins were previously thought not to be harmful. That would include your vitamin C. I had originally typed that, too. But apparently thinking on that has changed, and even water-soluble vitamins have a ceiling.

    I agree that you probably shouldn't worry about vitamins in food, if you're not taking supplements, but I guess it could get tricky if we don't define food vs. food-like products. Some of the packaged foods would be fortified with vitamins, and could count as more like a supplement than a food. If we're talking straight-up fruits and veggies, though - I really can't imagine overdosing on a vitamin from them. But I know that you can wind up with orange skin from eating too many carrots. So, now I have to go google that.
  • tiona83
    tiona83 Posts: 99 Member
    I recently over dosed on Vitamin D. It was a big error not only on my GP and Chemist but I also blame myself. No long term damage but I did learn one thing. If your concerned about something follow up on it/ do your research.

    Sounds like you would benefit from finding a vegetarian support group. They would defiantly be superior to answering your question regarding any concerns.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Yes, taking mega-doses of even water soluble vitamins can be a problem. Mega-doses of Vitamin C, for example can cause one to become "habituated" and when it is stopped, can result in a "rebound scurvy" (scurvy is a disease caused by a Vitamin C deficiency).
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    That having been said, vitamins are vastly safer than pharmaceuticals. I wouldn't worry about getting too many vitamins in food, as they are better absorbed and utilized than a supplemental form because of the co-factors involved. To use Vitamin C for an example again, the co-factors of rutin and hesperidin, which one gets in many foods that are rich in C, helps the body to utilize and get better tissue saturation of the vitamin C.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    It is really hard to OD on Vitamin C as the body quickly sheds the excess. The orange tinge from too much vitamin A/carotene is not a biggie either. A general rule of thumb is to watch the elements/metals like Zinc, Calcium, and Iron.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories