What About Vitamin Poisoning?

An article from the National Clearinghouse for Poison Control Centers Bulletin by George D. Armstrong points out, “The quantities required to constitute an acute toxic dose of multivitamins are so massive as to virtually eliminate the possibility.

Even multivitamins in combination with minerals or fluoride as a single ingestion should be of no more consequence than gastrointestinal irritation with or without purgation.”

With vitamin E, for example, individuals concerned about their long-term health can safely take daily amounts greater than the recommended dietary allowance without toxic effects, according to a report. The safety finding, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Lawrence I. Machlin, Ph.D., is particularly important because current research suggests that dosages of vitamin E substantially above the RDA level may be necessary to prevent cell damage that can lead to the development of degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and premature aging.

Researchers currently working with vitamin E and its impact on cell health suggest that 10 times the RDA or more may be required to minimize cell damage. The most compelling evidence of vitamin E’s low toxicity was found in human studies involving daily dosages of 600 to 3200 IU’s for periods of 3 weeks to 6 months, where “no significant side effects were observed,” Machlin said.

This is not to say that we should feel free to take any dosage we want of the several supplements available today, but should give us some piece of mind knowing that in normal and mega-dosages, statistics show vitamins to be safe for all ages.