Can one take too many vitamins? What happens if we do?

Yes is the answer to your question!! You CAN take too many vitamins. I won't to profess to know all of them, but I know that people that take massive amounts of vitamins, are usually are the most unhealthy people on the planet. Talk with your local nutritionist or go on line to find out or get a recommendation of some sort. Don't continue to just stuff vitamins down your throat until you get an educated opinion.

Of course, thats why theres an RDA on vitamin packs. Some are more dangerous than others though.

Yes, one can take too many vitamins. But some of them you really need to take a lot of to have anything bad happen, while others you should only take as much as you need and no more. I only know a few vitamins and how much you should take. Take as much vitamin C as you think fit, but don't over do it with calcium because you can end up with calcium deposits. My brother has some on his teeth. Taking too much chlorophyll (not chloroform) can cause diarrhea. That's all I can think of right now. But this is my advice to you if you are going to start taking vitamins. 1) If you are using certain vitamins with a multivitamin, stop taking the extras and only take the multi, unless you have a deficiency (not enough of a certain vitamin so that your body isn't functioning right) Taking too many can have ill effects on your body. 2) If you are loyally taking your vitamins every day, try skipping them on the weekends or every couple days or your body will grow dependent and if you end up running out or can't get any or just stop taking them, then you will feel sick for a couple of days. By skipping a day or two a week, your body won't grow dependent and you can stop taking them when ever you need to. 3) If you going on vacation or having a stressful time, take your vitamins! They'll keep you from getting sick. 4) Taking vitamins does not, and repeat, does NOT replace a food! You can't survive off just vitamins because they don't have any nutrition. Eat as you normally would anyway, because your body won't take in any of the vitamins unless it is paired with something that your body can absorb. Your body can easily absorb fats and oils, so a little salad dressing can help you absorb a lot of the nutrients and vitamins in your salad (but don't over do it, because too much ranch is bad for you) Also, drink lots with your vitamins so they are easier for your body to access. Hope this was helpful!

"Sarah" is wrong: only water soluble vitamins will come out of your pee. If you take too many fat soluble vitamins, the excess will be stored in your fat, and could damage your liver. Vitamin A is especially toxic in high doses (look for vitamins that have "Beta Carotene" instead, as it does the same thing as Vitamin A, but with fewer toxic side effects, and your body can tolerate higher doses (see below).). Men should not be taking iron supplements, either, unless you donate blood on a regular basis. Too much iron can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks in men and postmenopausal women. Most "men's vitamins" do NOT contain iron. I usually take a "low dosage" multivitamin, meaning that it takes two or three pills to get a full dosage. I usually only take one of these a day, instead of the recommended three daily. I do this so that I know that I am getting at least some vitamins, but not TOO much. After all, you get vitamins naturally through your food, anyway, so if you take a mega vitamin, you may be getting too much. --------------------------------------… ...Fat soluble With few exceptions, like some vitamins from B complex, hypervitaminosis usually occurs more with fat-soluble vitamins, which are stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body. Because of this, these vitamins build up and remain for a longer time in the body than water soluble vitamins.[1] Conditions include: Hypervitaminosis A Hypervitaminosis D Hypervitaminosis E... ...Minerals High doses of mineral supplements can also lead to side effects and toxicity. Mineral-supplement poisoning does occur occasionally due to excessive and unusual intake of iron-containing supplements, including some multivitamins, but is not common... --------------------------------------… ...The most common side effect of excessive β-carotene consumption is carotenodermia, a harmless condition that presents as a conspicuous orange skin tint arising from deposition of the carotenoid in the outermost layer of the epidermis.[13] Chronic, high doses of β-carotene supplements have been associated with increased rate of lung cancer among those who smoke.[14] Additionally, supplemental beta-carotene may increase the risk of prostate cancer, intracerebral hemorrhage, and cardiovascular and total mortality in people who smoke cigarettes or have a history of high-level exposure to asbestos.[15] β-carotene is stored in the liver and many other organs ("golden ovaries"). Rat studies show that the body cannot convert such stored β-carotene into vitamin A, even if a deficit develops. A result of heavy consumption of synthetic β-carotene from a great variety of foods to which it is added, plus from natural sources, may result in saturating the liver's storage capacity for fat soluble vitamins, so that reserves of other fat soluble vitamins, e.g. vitamin D and vitamin A, are not created - in countries far from the Equator, the summer storage of vitamin D, to be drawn upon during the darker winter, may be particularly important, not least in preventing osteoporosis and other vitamin D-deficiency related problems. In many cases the food colour annatto (E160b) can be used instead of β-carotene, and is not deposited in the body. β-carotene has a high tendency to oxidize, more so than most food fats, and may thus to some extent hasten oxidation more than other food colours such as annatto....

yes. one good multi-vitamin will do the job. if you take any prescription or otc drugs be sure and ask the pharmacist or doctor.