Multivitamin Side Effects

Multivitamins are essentially preparations intended to supplement our diet with various nutritional elements including vitamins and minerals. In the United States, multivitamins are defined as nutritional supplements comprising 3 or more vitamins and minerals, which do not contain any herbs, hormones or drugs. Multivitamin supplements are available in the form of tablets, powder, liquid, pastilles as well as injectable formulations. Basically multivitamins are vitamin supplements meant to cater vitamin deficiency. Some of the popular multivitamins are Centrum, Theragran and Vi-Daylin multivitamins.

Side Effects of Multivitamin

In the United States, the Food and Drug Board determines the dosage of each nutrient, ensuring that each of these nutrient is below the upper level of tolerance, and maximum daily intake, to avoid the risk of multivitamin overdose. When taken as per the directions, multivitamins do not cause any side effects, but an overdose or prolonged usage can lead to some serious side effects. These may range from stomach upset or headache to more severe complications such as Hemochromatosis, i.e. a fibrotic situation of the liver.

Although multivitamins are the best alternatives to tackle dietary imbalances, one has to take some precautions when using them as they have some side effects of their own.

• Studies have suggested that prolonged use of vitamin A, vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements in large proportions tends to shorten the life of individual. Of course, people who indulge in smoking are relatively more vulnerable to this problem.
• Like deficiency, even the excess of vitamin A can lead to birth defects owing to its high retinol content, and therefore pregnant women should avoid taking multivitamins and if at all they do, it should be only done after consulting a medical professional.
• Owing to the perniciousness of the components like iron, multivitamins taken in large amounts can lead to acute overdose. More importantly, excessive intake of micro-nutrients present in them can also lead to some adverse effects on the health.
• Studies have also revealed that multivitamins tend to react with various medical condition as well as medications, resulting in adverse effect on our body.
• At times the interaction of some otherwise harmless medication with multivitamins supplements rich in iron and calcium can lead to some adverse effects on the body of the patient affecting the rate of absorption of the particular drug.
• The side effects of overuse of magnesium and zinc can result in polyuria, tooth staining, stomach bleeding and muscle weakness.
• Excessive intake of vitamin C can cause renal stone formation, which may eventually lead to kidney failure. Excess vitamin C can also lead to metabolic acidosis which can trigger dehydration in the body.
• Iron overuse can lead to iron intoxicity, also referred to as iron poisoning, and which eventually results in a fibrotic situation of the liver known as Hemochromatosis.
• Most prominent side effects of multivitamins include hair loss, severe back pain, muscle ache, internal bleeding, skin peeling, severe headache as well as loss of appetite. Centrum multivitamin side effects include mild headache, significant weight loss, bone ache and joints ache.

Some of these side effects are yet to be established. For instance, excess of vitamin K can hamper the process involved in clotting system in humans. Normally, it is recommended that multivitamins should contain 100 percent or less Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for each ingredient, but with the advent of flavored multivitamins, intake of multivitamins has become a common phenomenon.

More than substantial amount of any supplement taken for prolonged periods can result in harmful effects on the body. Same is the case with multivitamins, and being aware of their side effects - and the symptoms of these side effects - will make it easier for you to carry out a primary diagnosis, which, in turn, will help you initiate treatment at the earliest.