Multivitamins are widely used by people from all over the world. They are usually consumed to improve or maintain good health, they also make up for the nutrient deficiencies in your daily diet. You can buy multivitamins from medical stores without a prescription. Even though they are mostly safe for consumption, there are a few multivitamin side effects you should not ignore.
Possible Side Effects of Multivitamins
Your body needs vitamins and minerals regularly to function properly. A well-balanced diet is necessary and in case you are unable to absorb adequate nutrients or suffer from any health issue, you may take multivitamins to meet the nutrient requirements.
Some people may experience a few multivitamin tablet side effects even though multivitamins are mostly considered safe for consumption. These are:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
These are some minor concerns related to the gut and they usually go away as your body adjusts to the multivitamins. However, if any of these symptoms occur and don’t get better with time, you must contact the doctor for further assistance.
Some rare multivitamin side effects are:
- Headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Insomnia
- Gout
These symptoms occur less frequently. In case you have an overdose of nutrients, you may experience these symptoms. It is also advised not to combine multivitamins with other supplements and you must watch your diet to eliminate chances of noticing these side effects. It is important to have multivitamins in moderation.
The rarest side effects of multivitamins is severe allergy. Some people may experience difficulty in breathing and swelling of the face, tongue, or throat after taking a multivitamin. This is when you must seek emergency medical help.
Side Effects of Multivitamin in Infants and Children
Side effects of multivitamin in children are similar to those that adults may experience. Children have a higher risk of nutrient overdoses – this can even lead to death in severe cases. They must be given multivitamins with caution and their diet must be set accordingly.
There are multivitamins made specifically for infants and children. You must also be careful about the type of multivitamin you give to a child. If you are giving your child an iron-rich multivitamin, then make sure they don’t eat foods with high iron content. This results in toxic overdoses, which is why consulting your healthcare provider before giving your child a multivitamin is crucial.
3 Categories of Nutrients in Multivitamins
- Water-soluble vitamins like Vitamin B and C are the ones that can dissolve in water and do not accumulate in your body. They cause no severe side effects and your body tends to flush out excess of these vitamins through your urine. You must, however, take these vitamins in the right amount. Too much of vitamin C may cause cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or migraines. Similarly, excess vitamin B3 may lead to high blood pressure, vision problems, and liver damage.
- Fat-soluble vitamins dissolve in fat and accumulate in the body. These can potentially cause havoc if taken in excess. For instance, vitamin A tablet side effects include headaches, liver damage, and weaker bones. Taking too much vitamin D may result in nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, cognitive problems, heart problems, kidney failure, and even death in severe cases.
- Minerals are inorganic elements that get stored in the body. They prove to be extremely harmful when taken in excess. If you consume high levels of iron, copper, magnesium, and zinc, you might experience an upset stomach, kidney stones, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and more. Multivitamins that have excess iodine trigger thyroid problems.
Conclusion
Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any vitamin and discuss your health condition and maintain the right dosage. Overdoses of vitamins can be dangerous and you must always have good quality multivitamins. Multivitamins are easy to consume and have a positive effect on the body. However, you should be watchful of the possible multivitamin side effects and check if these supplements are good for your health conditions.
