Vitamins are required for normal body functioning. If you think that you're not getting enough vitamins from your daily diet, you can take vitamin supplements in order to increase your daily vitamin intake. However, taking too much of such vitamins as vitamins C and E can result in adverse effects. Being aware of the symptoms of excess vitamin supplementation can help you to identify if you are taking an excess amount.
Increased Risk of Bleeding
The recommended daily allowance, or RDA, of vitamin E is 22.5 mg for those aged 14 and older, or 28.5 mg for pregnant women, according to Go Ask Alice!, a health resource from Columbia University. Although many dietary supplements exceed these numbers, long-term vitamin E use has been associated with a risk of prolonged bleeding. This can especially affect you if you do not have enough vitamin K in your system as vitamin K is needed for blood clotting. If you have a vitamin K deficiency or are taking medications to thin your blood, be aware of the dangers of too much vitamin E. Examples of these medications include warfarin, antiplatelet drugs and dipyridamole, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Some research suggests that vitamin C can also interfere with blood-thinning medications, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. If you take blood thinners, aim to consume or supplement your diet with no more than 1 g of vitamin C per day.
Increased Risk of Kidney Stones
Oxalate, a byproduct of the body breaking down vitamin C, can form into clumps and lead to kidney stone formation. While normal levels of vitamin C consumption are not associated with dangerous amounts of this byproduct, high doses of vitamin C, such as more than 1,000 mg, were associated with a 41 percent higher risk of experiencing kidney stones in men than those who consumed the RDA of 90 mg per day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. While more studies need to be conducted to form conclusive recommendations, if you have a genetic predisposition to form kidney stones or have experienced kidney stones in the past, avoid taking too much vitamin C.
Artery Thickening
According to a study cited by "New Scientist," middle-aged men and women who took 500 mg of vitamin C per day developed arteries that were 2.5 times thicker than those who did not take vitamin C supplements. This can potentially lead to atherosclerosis, with potential complications such as heart attack and stroke.
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