Can you die from excess/toxicity of vitamins (Hypervitaminosis)? / How people die from excess/toxicity of vitamins (Hypervitaminosis)?

Frankly speaking anything can kill a person if it is consumed in excess amount and it is true for the vitamins as well. Fortunately deaths due to vitamin toxicity are very rare. There are two type of vitamin; fat soluble vitamins: water soluble vitamins. Usually fat soluble vitamin can cause vitamin toxicity as they are accumulated in the adipose/fat tissues of the body.

Fat soluble vitamins

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin D
3. Vitamin E
4. Vitamin F
5. Vitamin K

Water soluble vitamins

1. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
2. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
3. Niacin/Nicotinic acid/Nicotinamide
4. Pantothenic acid
5. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
6. Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamine)
7. Folic acid
8. Vitamin H (Biotin)
9. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acids)

Vitamin A toxicity

Infants and young children are more vulnerable for Vitamin A toxicity. Bulging of fontanelles, irritability, severe headache and vomiting are features of acute toxicity of Vitamin A. Painful extremities, dry skin, sparse hair and hydrocephalus are some of the features of chronic Vitamin a toxicity. Therefore Infants and young children can die from Vitamin a toxicity. Adults can also be affected, but less frequently than that of youngest.

Vitamin D toxicity

The safety margin for vitamin D is large, and vitamin D toxicity is usually observed only in patients taking doses 40,000 IU daily.

Vitamin E toxicity

High doses of vitamin E (>800 mg/d) may reduce platelet aggregation and interfere with vitamin K metabolism and are therefore contraindicated in patients taking warfarin. Nausea, flatulence, and diarrhea have been reported at doses >1 g/d.

Vitamin K toxicity

Parenteral(Intravenous) doses of the water-soluble vitamin K derivative (menadione)have been reported to cause hemolytic anemia and hypobilirubinemia in infants. Toxicity from dietary phylloquinones and menaquinones has not been described. High doses of vitamin K can impair the actions of oral anticoagulants.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) toxicity

Although anaphylaxis has been reported after high doses of thiamine, no adverse effects have been recorded from either food or supplements at high doses. Thiamine supplements may be bought over the counter in doses of up to 50 mg/d.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) toxicity

Because the capacity of the gastrointestinal tract to absorb riboflavin is limited (20 mg if given in one oral dose), riboflavin toxicity has not been described.

Niacin toxicity

Prostaglandin-mediated flushing has been observed at daily doses as low as 50 mg of niacin when taken as a supplement or as therapy for hypertriglyceridemia.There is no evidence of toxicity from niacin derived from food sources. Flushing may be accompanied by skin dryness, itching, and headache. Premedication with aspirin may alleviate these symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain also occur at similar doses of niacin.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) toxicity

The safe upper limit for vitamin B6 has been set at 100 mg/d, although no adverse effects have been associated with high intakes of vitamin B6 from food sources only. When toxicity occurs, it causes a severe sensory neuropathy, leaving patients unable to walk. Some cases of photosensitivity and dermatitis have also been reported.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acids) toxicity

Taking 2 g of vitamin C in a single dose may result in abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea; doses >3 g have been reported to elevate blood levels of ALT, lactic acid dehydrogenase, and uric acid. Since vitamin C may be metabolized to oxalate, it is feared that chronic, high-dose vitamin C supplementation could result in an increased prevalence of kidney stones.

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