Why multivitamins make me sick

Taking too much vitamin A may cause loss of appetite, nausea, headache and dry, itchy skin. Choosing a supplement that has most of the vitamin A in the form of beta carotene can limit the risk of vitamin A toxicity. Toxicities typically develop over time, but taking mega-doses that are higher than the tolerable upper intake level could cause more immediate symptoms. For vitamin A, this would require a dose of more than 3, micrograms per day for adults. Likewise, high amounts of vitamin D can cause side effects, including diarrhea, vomiting, tiredness, itchy skin and bone pain.

Check with your doctor to determine an appropriate dose if you decide to take vitamin D supplements, and don't go over the tolerable upper intake level for adults of 4, international units per day. Side effects from taking large amounts of vitamin E aren't common, but when they do occur, they include diarrhea, fatigue, muscle weakness and nausea, according to the Merck Manual.

Vitamin E supplements can also thin your blood and increase the risk of excessive bleeding. Posted on January 28, By: Susanne Elsebrock. You might want to look to your medicine cabinet. Thomas Dowling Dr.

Laurence Mermelstein Dr. Hargovind DeWal Dr. Sushil Basra Dr. Christopher Frendo Dr. Daniel E. Joseph Sanelli Dr. Foods to focus on include:. That said, some people will benefit from a supplement , including:. If you think you need a supplement, talk to your doctor rather than just picking one off the shelf. If you need only a single nutrient, there's no reason to take a multivitamin with a lot of different ingredients that could be making you sick.

Nutrition Diets Healthy Diet. Jill Corleone is a registered dietitian with more than 20 years of experience. Jody Braverman is a professional writer and editor based in Atlanta, GA. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland, and she is a certified personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and yoga teacher.

She has written for various online and print publications, including Livestrong. Visit the writer at www. Connect on LinkedIn. Vitamins can make you sick if you take them on an empty stomach. Video of the Day. Tip You may feel sick after taking vitamins on an empty stomach, taking too much at once or taking a type of vitamin that irritates your stomach. Why Vitamins Make You Sick. Preventing Multivitamin Nausea. Take them with food. Most vitamins should not be taken on an empty stomach anyway, but making sure to take your supplement with food can help buffer potential stomach irritation.

This article reviews the safety of taking vitamins, as well as the side…. Multivitamins are the world's most popular dietary supplements. This article takes a detailed look at the health effects of multivitamins. Whole foods are the best sources of nutrients. Here are 8 healthy foods that contain higher amounts of certain nutrients than multivitamins. Gummy vitamins are increasingly popular. This article tells you whether they are good or bad for your health.

Vitamins and other nutrients from whole foods have many health benefits. The same may not apply to synthetic nutrients from supplements. It's no secret that vitamins can improve your health, but not all vitamins and minerals are equal. Here are the 10 best vitamin brands to help meet…. Vitamin supplements are absorbed differently depending on their type. This article reviews the best time to take vitamins to promote optimal…. Iron is an essential mineral, but ingesting too much can cause severe harm.

This is a detailed review of the harmful effects of too much iron. Vitamin D has numerous health benefits, but it's tricky to know which supplement to choose.

Here are 13 of the best vitamin D supplements, according…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Possible side effects Dosage Other factors Short- vs. Possible side effects of multivitamins. Other factors that may cause multivitamin side effects.

Short- versus long-term side effects. The bottom line. Read this next. Can You Overdose on Vitamins? Do Multivitamins Work? The Surprising Truth. Do Gummy Vitamins Work?