Can you overdose on water soluble vitamins?

Shae · 08-29-2006, 01:15 PM

Such as the B vitamins? Or does one simply excrete (thru urine) what is unneeded?

TIA!

Jilly4BigRed · 08-29-2006, 02:48 PM

According to my nutrition instructor...any water soluble vitamin/mineral that is marketed as having more than 100% of the daily value is a waste of money because your body excretes the excess.

northernstar · 08-29-2006, 03:19 PM

Your body just gets rid of anything it doesn't need (via urine). It's very important to note this does not apply to all vitamins!
Fat-soluble vitamins can cause damage if you take too much (specifically Vitamin A). There's no need to OD on your vitamins.

lmatkins · 08-29-2006, 08:06 PM

Uh watch out with that - the FDA DOES have a recomended daily intake for a number of different vitamins - if there's a RDA (recommended daily intake) that means that you can overdose and you can get sick. Vitamins in excess can actually be quite toxic. Go to the FDA website and look and see what the RDA is for whatever vitamins you are interested in. DON'T exceed those. Believe me, you can get very ill and do some serious damage. Just because it's a vitamin doesn't mean it can't be toxic in excess, like many other things.

So many people wolf down vitamin after vitamin that is WELL over the RDA. Frankly that's stupid because either a) you're peeing out very expensive urine or b) you could put yourself in the hospital.

A single multivitamin should be MORE than sufficient if you are eating a healthy balanced diet.

KajunDC · 08-30-2006, 09:25 AM

The RDA is the minimum amount you need to not get a vitamin deficiency disease. You cannot overdose on water soluble vitamins as the excess is excreted out in the urine. Or I suppose you could but my gosh you would have to take TONS and TONS of the vitamin to do it.

This is NOT the case with the fat soluble vitamins however. Those you can overdose on.

lmatkins · 08-30-2006, 06:04 PM

Actually if you look up the official values, it is possible to overdose on Vitamins B3, Viatmin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin D (1-4), Vitamin C (toxic effects have been reported at doses as low as 500 mg, including stomach and intestinal issues.

Also I thought that typically if there was data on the MINUMUM amounts of a vitamin you should intake, then that meant that usually there was data telling if a) it is possible to overdose and b) how much you have to take before you overdose. You'd be SHOCKED how for a good number of OTC vitamins we have really no idea how much is a toxic dose.

BTW the RDA for most water soluble vitamins is in the microgram level.

And it is not impossible to overdose on water soluble vitamins. The key is you need to consume enough at ONE SITTING that would allow the vitamin levels in your body to increase to such a point that toxic effects were seen.

Takeiteasy2000 · 08-31-2006, 12:06 PM

OK, nutrition teacher here...Yes you can overdose on them and yes you would have to take A LOT to do so. For example too much vitamin C can cause problems with lose bowels and may actually damage your kidneys. You do excrete the excess but it can cause problems as you do so.

08-29-2006, 01:15 PM	#1
Shae Guest Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 731 Gallery: Shae	Can you overdose on water soluble vitamins? Such as the B vitamins? Or does one simply excrete (thru urine) what is unneeded? TIA!

08-29-2006, 08:06 PM	#4
lmatkins Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 521 Gallery: lmatkins	Uh watch out with that - the FDA DOES have a recomended daily intake for a number of different vitamins - if there's a RDA (recommended daily intake) that means that you can overdose and you can get sick. Vitamins in excess can actually be quite toxic. Go to the FDA website and look and see what the RDA is for whatever vitamins you are interested in. DON'T exceed those. Believe me, you can get very ill and do some serious damage. Just because it's a vitamin doesn't mean it can't be toxic in excess, like many other things. So many people wolf down vitamin after vitamin that is WELL over the RDA. Frankly that's stupid because either a) you're peeing out very expensive urine or b) you could put yourself in the hospital. A single multivitamin should be MORE than sufficient if you are eating a healthy balanced diet. __________________ [COLOR=Plum]5'3[/COLOR] [COLOR=Plum]130 pounds[/COLOR] [COLOR=Plum]Goal Weight: 110[/COLOR]

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08-29-2006, 02:48 PM	#2
Jilly4BigRed Senior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 350 Gallery: Jilly4BigRed Stats: 162.5/162.5/140 5'4" WOE: Atkins Start Date: December 2009	According to my nutrition instructor...any water soluble vitamin/mineral that is marketed as having more than 100% of the daily value is a waste of money because your body excretes the excess.

08-29-2006, 03:19 PM	#3
northernstar Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,333 Gallery: northernstar	Your body just gets rid of anything it doesn't need (via urine). It's very important to note this does not apply to all vitamins! Fat-soluble vitamins can cause damage if you take too much (specifically Vitamin A). There's no need to OD on your vitamins.

08-30-2006, 09:25 AM	#5
KajunDC Natural Healthcare Chiropractor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mandeville, LA (Just North of New Orleans) Posts: 3,191 Gallery: KajunDC Stats: Lost 115lbs 2004. Maintaining ever since. WOE: Lower Carb Mediterranean-Style Organic Diet Start Date: Low Carb-Mar04, BFFM-Jul05, P90-X-Dec24,08	The RDA is the minimum amount you need to not get a vitamin deficiency disease. You cannot overdose on water soluble vitamins as the excess is excreted out in the urine. Or I suppose you could but my gosh you would have to take TONS and TONS of the vitamin to do it. This is NOT the case with the fat soluble vitamins however. Those you can overdose on.

08-30-2006, 06:04 PM	#6
lmatkins Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 521 Gallery: lmatkins	Actually if you look up the official values, it is possible to overdose on Vitamins B3, Viatmin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin D (1-4), Vitamin C (toxic effects have been reported at doses as low as 500 mg, including stomach and intestinal issues. Also I thought that typically if there was data on the MINUMUM amounts of a vitamin you should intake, then that meant that usually there was data telling if a) it is possible to overdose and b) how much you have to take before you overdose. You'd be SHOCKED how for a good number of OTC vitamins we have really no idea how much is a toxic dose. BTW the RDA for most water soluble vitamins is in the microgram level. And it is not impossible to overdose on water soluble vitamins. The key is you need to consume enough at ONE SITTING that would allow the vitamin levels in your body to increase to such a point that toxic effects were seen.

08-31-2006, 12:06 PM	#7
Takeiteasy2000 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,931 Gallery: Takeiteasy2000 Stats: 280 22W/Reached goal of 160 on 12/22/05 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 4/21/01	OK, nutrition teacher here...Yes you can overdose on them and yes you would have to take A LOT to do so. For example too much vitamin C can cause problems with lose bowels and may actually damage your kidneys. You do excrete the excess but it can cause problems as you do so.