Hypervitaminosis – causes, symptoms & therapy

Hypervitaminosis is a clinical picture that occurs as a result of an overdose of vitamins . It is colloquially referred to as vitamin poisoning and divided into two forms. On the one hand, the acute form, which occurs with a one-off overdose, and on the other hand, the chronic form, which occurs with a permanent overdose and brings with it various side effects. Both forms are triggered by lipophilic (fat-soluble) vitamins, as these are stored in the tissue. The opposite of hypervitaminosis is hypovitaminosis, a lack of vitamins .

causes

Hypervitaminosis is caused by an overdose of a certain vitamin. This usually happens when you take too many vitamins or dietary supplements. Poisoning can also occur as a result of therapy with vitamins. Hypervitaminosis occurs more frequently, especially when patients are artificially fed , since gastric tube feeding contains a high proportion of vitamins.The risk of overdose is extremely high. So-called parenteral nutrition (infusion) is similarly problematic. A normal diet rarely leads to vitamin poisoning. Only liver carries a certain risk, since it contains a lot of vitamin A , which can lead to intoxication. So, the risk of hypervitaminosis is mainly during clinical stays and after taking preparations.

When to the doctor?

The risk of hypervitaminosis usually only exists in people who take vitamin preparations, dietary supplements or special foods enriched with vitamins (e.g. products for weight loss or muscle building). Mild cases of hypervitaminosis are often not recognized as such, since they are associated with non-specific disorders. Don’t worry if you accidentally take too much vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the water-soluble vitamins. Healthy people simply excrete an overdose. Only people suffering from kidney stones should consult a doctor as a precaution.

As a rule, serious symptoms of poisoning can only occur if the intake of fat-soluble vitamins is too high. The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K can be stored in the body, so that long-term overdoses can cause damage to health. A permanent oversupply of vitamin A is particularly dangerous, as this can lead to liver damage.

Anyone who takes vitamin supplements should consult a doctor as a precaution in the event of symptoms of poisoning. Signs of hypervitaminosis can include headaches, stomach pains , nausea and vomiting, as well as dizziness , loss of appetite, itchy, flaky skin or cracked corners of the mouth. In the case of infants and small children, suspected accidental hypervitaminosis should be consulted as a precautionary measure, even if the child shows no symptoms.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of hypervitaminosis:

• headache

• nausea

• loss of appetite

• Vomit

• coordination disorders

• visual disturbances

Hypervitaminosis can be identified by various symptoms. This leads to headaches, nausea and loss of appetite as well as vomiting. In addition, those affected feel an increasing lethargy, suffer from coordination disorders and have torn corners of the mouth. In some cases, double vision also occurs. From there, vitamin poisoning causes severe discomfort.

Hypervitaminosis can result in severe brain damage for those affected if left untreated. In the course of the poisoning, headaches and nausea occur first, followed shortly afterwards by vomiting. In the worst case, the intercranial pressure ( cerebral pressure ) can increase, which can lead to the aforementioned brain damage.

Medical treatment is therefore absolutely necessary in order not to suffer any long-term effects from hypervitaminosis. The chronic form must also be diagnosed as quickly as possible, as long-term consequences such as osteoporosis can severely impair quality of life and even lead to death. Vitamin poisoning in childhood can also lead to growth disorders.

Diagnose

The acute form of hypervitaminosis has symptoms similar to other poisonings. This leads to gastrointestinal complaints , headaches and circulatory disorders. The symptoms are important factors in making the diagnosis of vitamin poisoning. The anamnesis also contributes to the diagnosis. In conversation with the patient, the doctor clarifies the previous medical history, finds out about the medication and vitamin preparations taken and can narrow down the causes.

Physical examinations can also be used. These include ultrasound scans, scans of the liver and a measurement of intracranial pressure. Chronic hypervitaminosis is more difficult to diagnose. The reason for this is the relatively general complaints. Skin irritation , an enlarged liver and other disorders also occur in various other diseases and are difficult to assign to vitamin poisoning.

An accurate diagnosis is also problematic because the disease is rare. Nevertheless, the diagnosis can be made on the basis of a targeted blood test . Above all, an increased calcium content in the blood is an important indication of hypervitaminosis.

complications

Hypervitaminosis can result in a variety of complications, depending on which vitamin has been overdosed. Too high a concentration of vitamin A in the body can cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhea , headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite and fatigue. Vision problems, hair loss and itching can also occur, and in severe cases bone loss, increased intracranial pressure or permanent liver damage can result. Excessive intake of vitamin A during pregnancy can lead to birth defects or miscarriage.

A vitamin D excess increases the calcium concentration in the blood, which impairs kidney function and, in the worst case, can lead to kidney failure . In rare cases, chronic overdose can be fatal. Taking too much vitamin E causes headaches, nausea and indigestion, and the tendency to bleed can be increased. Very rarely, after taking large amounts of vitamins B, C and K, complications arise:

Excessive intake of vitamin B6 over a period of months can lead to neurological disorders or an increased sensitivity to sunlight. After greatly increased vitamin K intake, infants and patients taking anticoagulant medications occasionally experience red blood cell dissolution ( hemolysis ). A long-term overdose of vitamin C is problematic for people who tend to form oxalate stones.

treatment and therapy

In order to effectively treat hypervitaminosis, the doctor must first discourage the patient from self-medication. This is not easy, especially with the chronic form, since an addictive character may have already developed. In addition, vitamin preparations are now available in every supermarket, which makes this first step even more difficult.

If there is a mild form of acute hypervitaminosis, it is usually sufficient to stop consumption. Depending on which vitamin was overdosed, medication may have to be used. In the case of vitamin D poisoning, for example, it is necessary to prescribe diuretic pharmaceuticals in order to flush out the excess substances.

↳ More information: Home remedies for food poisoning

Vitamin A hypervitaminosis is particularly problematic, since high overdose increases intracranial pressure. A clinical stay is therefore usually prescribed here in order to check the intercranial pressure. Finally, complications such as kidney stones , visual disturbances and skin irritation must be treated.

prevention

Hypervitaminosis can be prevented by using dietary supplements and vitamin preparations responsibly. It is important to pay attention to the exact quantities. In particular, the vitamin A and D content should not be too high to prevent poisoning. In addition, liver should only be consumed to a limited extent. Although the risk of developing hypervitaminosis as a result is low, the danger should not be underestimated in connection with preparations.Hypervitaminosis can also be prevented by regularly checking blood values. In particular, the chronic form is otherwise difficult to recognize and occurs insidiously, since they are stored in the vitamins and gradually reach a dangerous level.