Vitamin poisoning, or hypervitaminosis, refers to a condition of high storage levels of vitamins, which can lead to toxic symptoms. The medical names of the different conditions are derived from the vitamin involved: an excess of vitamin A, for example, is called "hypervitaminosis A".

High dosage vitamin A, high dosage, slow release vitamin B₃ and very high dosage vitamin B₆ alone without vitamin B complex are sometimes associated with vitamin side effects that usually rapidly cease with supplement reduction or cessation. Conversely, certain vitamins do not produce toxicity in excess levels. Vitamin C has been used in dosages over 100,000 mg for serious illness ^* — over 1000 times the daily recommended intake — without ill effects. Vitamin C does have a pronounced laxative effect, typically in the range of 5-20 grams per day for a person in normal "good health".

High doses of mineral supplements can also lead to side effects and toxicity. Mineral supplement poisoning does occur occasionally due to excessive and unusual intake of iron containing supplements, including some multivitamins. Hypervitaminosis with multivitamins is uncommon.

Comparative safety statistics

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Deaths by vitamin poisoning appear to be quite rare in the US, typically none in a given year. However several deaths per year are typically associated with iron-containing supplements, especially brightly-colored, sugar-coated, high-potency iron supplements, and most deaths are children. This compares with 59 deaths due to aspirin poisoning in 2003, 147 deaths associated with acetaminophen-containing products in 2003, and an average of 54 deaths per year due to lightning for 1990-2003.

See also

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• Hypervitaminosis A
• Hypervitaminosis D

See also

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• Avitaminosis

Toxicology

Hiperwitaminoza