But routinely getting an overload of vitamins and minerals can hurt you. Too much vitamin C or zinc could cause nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Too much selenium could lead to hair loss, gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, and mild nerve damage.
Can taking too many vitamins impact my health? It's possible. Once the human body uses the vitamins and minerals it needs, the rest is excreted or stored. There are some supplements that can cause harm, so you have to be aware of what you're taking.
Many multivitamin products also contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling.
You can—but it's probably not a good idea. For some supplements, optimal absorption can depend on the time of day taken. Not only that—taking certain vitamins, minerals, or other supplements together can also reduce absorption and may result in adverse interactions, which can be harmful to your health.
“Many people experience stomach pains, nausea and even diarrhea.” Vitamins and supplements can also aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcers, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive conditions, Dr. Lee says.
It is more important that people do not experience any breaks in their daily supplementation of a vitamin, especially if they are taking it to manage a deficiency. In general, it is better to avoid supplements altogether and get sufficient nutrition from a balanced diet.
The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Vitamin D toxicity might progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.
“Digestion slows down during sleep, so taking your nutrient supplement late at night would not be associated with an efficient absorption.” Neil Levin, a clinical nutritionist at NOW Foods, agrees that morning is best for multivitamins and any B vitamins.
Combining multiple supplements or taking higher-than-recommended doses can increase the risk that they can cause harm, said Kitchin. "You really can't get toxic doses of nutrients through food, but you can absolutely get toxic doses through supplements," Kitchin said.
Vitamin D is the most potentially toxic of all vitamins.
The Bottom Line. Multiple medications, including dietary supplements, can cause fatigue or other mood disorders. People with excessive fatigue, depression, or anxiety should seek medical care for further evaluation, including a review of all medications and supplements used.
If you take too much supplemental or prescription vitamin D, it can lead to vitamin D toxicity. The main complication of this is moderate to severe hypercalcemia, which can cause symptoms like vomiting, increased thirst and frequent urination.
No, bright yellow urine doesn't mean that you're not absorbing your vitamins. Any vitamin that's mixing with your pee is a water-soluble vitamin, and any amount of it that your body doesn't need simply gets excreted through the urine. That means your body is taking in what it needs.
For use as a dietary supplement: If you miss taking a dietary supplement for one or more days there is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to become seriously low in vitamins.
Many ingredients in weight loss supplements have been found to contribute to anxiety. For instance, guarana and green tea extracts are common ingredients in weight loss supplements that contain high amounts of caffeine; while Saint John's wort produces side effects including fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and anxiety.
Neurotropic B vitamins play crucial roles as coenzymes and beyond in the nervous system. Particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) contribute essentially to the maintenance of a healthy nervous system.