Your body requires vitamin B-12 to produce healthy red blood cells, create new DNA strands and keep your nervous system functioning properly. While getting enough vitamin B-12 is a good thing, it is possible to take excess amounts. If this occurs, you can experience symptoms that are not typically life-threatening but can signal that you should reduce your overall intake to safer levels.
Recommended Levels
The recommended daily intake of vitamin B-12 is determined based on your age. If you consume vitamin B-12 at the recommended levels, you should have enough to maintain good health. Adults older than age 14 should consume 2.4 mcg, while pregnant women should have 2.6 mcg. Young people ages 9 to 13 should consume at least 1.8 mcg. Those 4 to 8 years old should have 1.2 mcg. Foods like clams, crab, salmon, turkey, eggs and milk contain the vitamin. Consuming a little more than the recommended intake does not qualify as a toxic dose. Consuming as much as 1,000 mcg is not associated with adverse effects, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. However, it is possible to experience some side effects as a result of high levels of vitamin B-12 intake, which vary based on your age, gender and specific medical conditions.
Dermatologic Effects
Taking excess amounts of vitamin B-12 are associated with itching skin. Other skin effects of taking vitamin B-12 include aggravating acne. Taking more than 5 to 10 mg of vitamin B-12 a week is associated with the onset of inflammatory acne, according to Drugs.com. While the exact link between vitamin B-12 and acne is unknown, the connection has been observed. This may, however, be due to the presence of iodine or sorbitol in vitamin B-12 supplements.
Upset Stomach
Taking too much vitamin B-12 is associated with some stomach effects. This includes mild upset stomach, nausea or mild diarrhea. In some instances, you may experience vomiting as a result of excess vitamin B-12 intake.
Neurological Effects
Because vitamin B-12 builds the nervous system, excess vitamin B-12 is associated with toxicity to your nervous system. Some adverse side effects include anxiety, dizziness, lack of coordination and nervousness. You also may have a headache as the result of too much vitamin B-12.
Treatment
If you believe you have taken too much vitamin B-12, discontinue taking the supplements and avoid foods high in vitamin B-12. Seek medical attention if your symptoms do not subside after taking smaller dosages. Sometimes you can experience toxic effects after taking vitamin B-12 not because of the vitamin but because of other inactive ingredients contained within the supplement, such as trace metals. Vitamin B-12 also may adversely mix with some medications and cause a reaction as well. If you believe this is the case, seek immediate medical treatment.
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