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  |  Eat Right  |  Vitamins and Supplements  |  Can you overdose on vitamins
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Can you overdose on vitamins

by Dr Wynnie Chan

question
I am currently taking a multivitamin, a garlic supplement and a high strength fish oil as well as oil of evening primrose. All of these products also contain vitamin E, A and D. Is this OK? If not, how can I take my supplements without 'overdosing' on these vitamins? If that is, in effect, what I am doing.

answer
Vitamins such as A, E and D are fat-soluble which means that excess quantities above the recommended daily amount can accumulate in the body. In effect, you could be overdosing on these vitamins by taking several supplements a day. Usually, if a person is eating a varied diet containing foods from the four main food groups (1. Bread, pasta, cereals, rice and potatoes; 2. Fruit and vegetables; 3. Meat, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts, tofu; and 4. Milk and dairy products), then additional vitamin and mineral supplements are not needed.

A general multivitamin and mineral supplement should not provide more than 100 per cent of the recommended daily amount of any vitamin or mineral because your diet, even if it's not balanced, will provide at least some of this. To avoid overdosing, choose supplements that don't overlap in terms of the vitamins and minerals they provide. Your pharmacist should be able to make recommendations on the various products that are available on the market.

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