Vitamin B overdose: symptoms and treatment. Daily dose of B vitamins

2024 Author: Curtis Blomfield | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 05:35

The human body all year round needs to maintain a good condition, both physical and mental. An important factor in this matter is enrichment with vitamins. The most important group of which are B vitamins.

However, often with the wrong dosage of a particular drug, there is a risk of hypervitaminosis (excessive content of vitamins in the body). About what this will lead to and how to recognize hypervitaminosis - in detail in this article. It also offers information on the daily dose of B vitamins.

What is hypervitaminosis: its dangers

Hypervitaminosis is an excess of one or another group of vitamins in the human body. Such a diagnosis can lead not only to organ damage, but also to poisoning. The main reason for the increased amount of certain substances in the blood, according to experts, is their uncontrolled intake.

Many believe thathypervitaminosis can be obtained even while taking a product saturated with this substance. It's not!

According to statistics, an overdose of B vitamins is diagnosed in 70% of cases in children under 7 years of age. This is because parents are trying hard to improve the immune system of the baby. In addition, most of the vitamins in excess in the body are not accompanied by pronounced symptoms of hypervitaminosis.

B vitamins

B vitamins belong to the water-soluble group. They were first mentioned in 1912. At that time, they were not separated, considering them to be a single substance. As it became clear a little later, this group contained many substances that were enriched with nitrogen. Each of them had a certain effect on the body and was designated from B₁ to B_20.

After multiple studies by scientists, it turned out that the vast majority of B vitamins are produced by the body itself. So, the amount of these substances was noticeably reduced.

Today, an overdose of B vitamins is not uncommon. Therefore, it is extremely important to know which substance affects which organ system. So:

1. B_{1 or thiamine is responsible for all types of metabolism in the human body.}
2. In _{2or riboflavin also takes an active part in metabolic processes, and also improves the functioning of the visual apparatus. It has a beneficial effect on the condition of the dermis.}
3. B_{3 or nicotinic acid has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system andregulates metabolism.}
4. Vitamin B6. What is it for? This vitamin or pyridoxine is responsible for the full functioning of the nervous system, improves the functioning of the immune system and stimulates the synthesis of hemoglobin.
5. B_{7 responsible for saturating the body with energy reserves.}
6. B_{9, which is also called folic acid - one of the most important elements among the B vitamins, which is responsible for the development of the fetus during pregnancy. It helps build immunity and the nervous system.}
7. B_{12 or cyanocobalamin is responsible for the synthesis of red blood cells, the full functioning of the central nervous system in the human body. “What is vitamin B12 for” is a simple question, it is responsible for the formation of blood cells, having a beneficial effect on the state of a person’s hemoglobin level.}

Types of hypervitaminosis

Overdose of B vitamins can be either acute or chronic. The first of these occurs when a person once loads the body with a dose of a substance that is much higher than the recommended one.

Chronic hypervitaminosis appears after long-term intake of vitamins in the wrong dose. Most often, an overdose of this nature is observed in the elderly, pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children. And it is dangerous for the body.

Symptoms of an overdose of B vitamins

Regardless of the type of hypervitaminosis, it has common symptoms. These include:

1. Violation of speech and motormachine.
2. Sleep disturbance.
3. Increased body temperature.
4. Redness in certain areas of the skin.
5. Dizziness.
6. Sharp pain in the temples.
7. High heart rate.

There are also a number of symptoms that can identify an overdose of vitamin B_1:

1. Rashes on the neck, shoulders, chest, accompanied by high body temperature.
2. Renal abnormalities.

Scientists have proven that an excess of B1 is very dangerous, and puts a person at risk of developing anaphylactic shock.

Vitamin B-induced hypervitaminosis_{3 may cause the following symptoms:}

1. Burning of the skin of the face and torso.
2. Increased eye sensitivity.
3. Diarrhea.
4. Nausea and vomiting.
5. Muscle pain and low blood pressure.

With an overdose of vitamin B_{6 the following changes in the body can be observed:}

1. Skin rash.
2. Dizziness and loss of consciousness (in extremely rare cases).
3. Increased acidity of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases (in case of gastritis or ulcers).

Symptoms of an overdose of vitamin B in adults should be known to everyone, since no one is immune from this.

First Aid

If you managed to self-diagnose hypervitaminosis, before going to a specialist you should:

1. Stop taking the drug.
2. Induce a gag reflex by drinking a largeamount of water or a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Take a laxative pill (this will also help cleanse the intestines).

In case of severe intoxication, you must immediately call an ambulance.

Sources

Products that are rich in vitamins of this group are vegetable and animal. The most popular and accessible to everyone: legumes, meat, cereals, liver and kidneys, dairy products.

Also, B vitamins are found in large quantities in fish and nuts, many berries, vegetables and fruits. It is worth considering that some substances from this group are produced by the body on its own.

The main feature of vitamin B tablets is that it can be quickly excreted from the body under the influence of certain factors. The main ones are stress and increased physical activity. Why is vitamin B12 taken? It helps prevent nervous strain, having a positive effect on the central nervous system.

What dose of a substance can cause an overdose

Each of the vitamins of this group has its own therapeutic dose, which must not be exceeded. It should be calculated individually by an experienced specialist, depending on the age, weight and category of the patient. So, for pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children, a prophylactic dose will be prescribed. For people leading an active lifestyle, it will be slightly higher. For those diagnosed with hypovitaminosis, an individual therapeutic dose of the substance will be selected.

In order to developan overdose of a particular substance in the body, it must be taken tens, and sometimes hundreds of times more than recommended. Therapeutic doses of B vitamins look like this:

• B1- 1, 2-1, 4mg;
• B2- 1.5-3mg;
• B3- 5-10mg;
• B6- 2-2, 2mg;
• B9- 0.2-0.5mg;
• B12- 2-5 mg.

When to call an ambulance

Seek help from qualified professionals in case of an overdose of vitamins from group B in cases where a pregnant woman has suffered, as well as a small child or an elderly person.

In addition, you should immediately call an ambulance when a person has seizures, depression, or, conversely, arousal of consciousness. Do not postpone the call of doctors even when the victim loses consciousness, his body temperature rises and falls sharply, or allergic skin rashes appear.

If the patient is taken to a medical facility, he must be given the necessary assistance. So, first of all, he is prescribed a strict diet, which provides for the complete absence of products containing B vitamins. It is also recommended that the victim take isotonic solutions. Often this is plain sodium chloride or Ringer's solution. Further, specialists prescribe diuretics to speed up the process of cleansing the body from a toxic dose of substances.

The consequences of an overdose

In the case when a person has taken an overdose of the drug repeatedly, he risksget the development of hypervitaminosis.

He, in turn, depending on the severity can lead to kidney failure, blood clots, impaired lung function and even anaphylactic shock.

Do you need to take B vitamins

In our country it is customary to drink vitamin complexes twice a year. Allegedly, in the spring and in the autumn-winter period, the body is weakest and needs additional nutrition. All this is nothing more than fiction. Moreover, B vitamins are found in almost all foods that we consume daily.

The most typical deficiency for our human body is the lack of vitamin D, as well as iodine, zinc and magnesium. To replenish their amount in the blood, you need to consult a doctor and take each substance separately according to a special scheme, and not load the body with a complex of substances that you may not need to take at all.

Also, do not forget that in order to diagnose hypo- or hypervitaminosis, you need to undergo a complete medical examination. After that, you will be able to understand exactly what your he alth lacks and what should be taken extra. Prevention of hypervitaminosis should not be carried out without the supervision of a doctor.

Scientists have not proven the fact that the body needs complex drugs just "in reserve" and to strengthen the immune system. They are of the opinion that taking certain substances is advisable only if their deficiency is detected.