B vitamins include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12 and biotin. You're unlikely to get an overdose from B vitamins from food sources, but if you're taking a dietary supplement with B vitamins, you may risk some symptoms. If you suspect that you have an overdose of a B vitamin or any micronutrient, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Nausea, Vomiting, Flushing, Itching
You probably won't get an overdose of niacin, or vitamin B3, from your regular food, but you might experience gastrointestinal symptoms or skin disorders if you take it for its cholesterol-lowering properties. The Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center says the most common form of niacin that you can get as an over-the-counter or prescription medication for cholesterol is nicotinic acid. Some of the side effects of taking this high dose of niacin are nausea and vomiting. You might also experience flushing and itching. The most common form of niacin in fortified foods or dietary supplements is nicotinamide, and you may get nausea or vomiting if you take more than 3g per day.
Nutrient Interactions
Getting too much of a particular nutrient can interfere with your body's ability to properly absorb and use other nutrients, and this can happen when you chronically get too much of certain B vitamins. For example, the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health says too much folate from supplements can lead to deficiency symptoms of vitamin B12. To prevent this, healthy adults older than 19 shouldn't have more than 1,000mg per day of folate. Another example of nutrient interactions involving too much of a B vitamin is with biotin and pantothenic acid. According to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, having too much of one of these vitamins can lead to a deficiency of the other. To reduce your risk of nutrient interactions from a vitamin B overdose, stay under the tolerable upper level of intake that the Institute of Medicine sets for each nutrient.
Liver Problems, Diabetes, Vision Problems
An overdose of niacin, or vitamin B3, can increase your risk for liver problems, diabetes or vision problems. The Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center says that taking high amounts of niacin in the form of nicotinic acid can lead to liver diseases such as jaundice or hepatitis. These symptoms are more likely in people who have certain risk factors such as liver disease, alcoholism, heart disorders or a history of migraines. Niacin toxicity may also cause impaired glucose tolerance, which can develop into diabetes. Because some of the symptoms of a vitamin B overdose can be very serious, talk to your doctor about any vitamin B supplements that you're considering.
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