When we talk about the vitamin toxicity we can categorize all the vitamins into two broad categories based on the solubility.
Water soluble
Water soluble Vitamins are,
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin C
These vitamins are highly soluble in water and readily excreted in urine. Even a higher dosage is taken toxicity is rare. But with very high doses complications can occur. So Vitamin toxicity due to high doses of Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C are rare. In people whose renal functions are compromised these water soluble Vitamins are not properly excreted from the body. So In that case toxicity and death can occur.
Lipid soluble
Lipid soluble vitamins are,
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
these vitamins are not water soluble and not highly excreted in urine. So even in a marginal increase over the amount which can be excreted may result in accumulation of lipid soluble vitamins and sometimes death can result if the toxicity is not treated properly.
Vitamin A Toxicity
Vitamin A toxicity is relatively common and can be categorized into acute toxicity and chronic toxicity. Acute toxicity of vitamin A occurs after an ingestion of a large amount of vitamin A. Symptoms of acute vitamin A toxicity include headache, dizziness, vomiting , stupor, and blurred vision. These symptoms may mimic a brain tumor.
Symptoms of chronic vitamin A toxicity includes weight loss, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, bone pain and joint pain. Both these toxicities can ultimately lead to the death.
Vitamin D toxicity
Vitamin D toxicity in small children may produce metastatic calcification. In adults it can cause bone pain and hypercalcaemia. As toxic potential of Vitamin D is high in sufficiently large doses it can cause death.
Water soluble
Water soluble Vitamins are,
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin C
These vitamins are highly soluble in water and readily excreted in urine. Even a higher dosage is taken toxicity is rare. But with very high doses complications can occur. So Vitamin toxicity due to high doses of Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C are rare. In people whose renal functions are compromised these water soluble Vitamins are not properly excreted from the body. So In that case toxicity and death can occur.
Lipid soluble
Lipid soluble vitamins are,
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
these vitamins are not water soluble and not highly excreted in urine. So even in a marginal increase over the amount which can be excreted may result in accumulation of lipid soluble vitamins and sometimes death can result if the toxicity is not treated properly.
Vitamin A Toxicity
Vitamin A toxicity is relatively common and can be categorized into acute toxicity and chronic toxicity. Acute toxicity of vitamin A occurs after an ingestion of a large amount of vitamin A. Symptoms of acute vitamin A toxicity include headache, dizziness, vomiting , stupor, and blurred vision. These symptoms may mimic a brain tumor.
Symptoms of chronic vitamin A toxicity includes weight loss, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, bone pain and joint pain. Both these toxicities can ultimately lead to the death.
Vitamin D toxicity
Vitamin D toxicity in small children may produce metastatic calcification. In adults it can cause bone pain and hypercalcaemia. As toxic potential of Vitamin D is high in sufficiently large doses it can cause death.
