Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Is it dangerous to take this many vitamins?
QUESTION:
I take a large variety of vitamins and am curious to know if I am taking too
many. Here is what I take every day:
2000 mg vitamin c
1 prenatal vitamin
1 zinc pill
1 iron pill
1 multi-vitamin
I also take echinacea and A product from FREELIFE called Fresh Harvest,
which is a Vitamin and Fruit supplement.
Is it dangerous to take so many vitamins and herbs? If you can't answer my
questions, can you tell me where I can get this information, I would greatly
appreciate it.
ANSWER:
I am not a physician, but a nutritionist. My opinion is just that, an opinion and
is not medical advice.
I think that is too much vitamin C, probably not toxic once you are used to it,
but not doing you any good either. I have never met anyone with a requirement even
1/4 that high. If you reduce it, though, do it slowly. Maybe down to 400 or 500 at
the most.
If you are pregnant (none of my business, of course, but a prenatal vitamin might
indicate that), your principal worry would be getting too much vitamin A, which
can cause birth defects. I have no way of knowing what form of A (the vitamin
itself or carotene) or how much is in each of those supplements, but if much of it
is the active vitamin, it could add up to too much for you and, if present, a
fetus.
Add up the totals for each vitamin from every thing and remember your food
probably provides you with far more than your requirement already.