Hypervitaminosis: Symptoms, Treatment, Consequences, Causes

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Hypervitaminosis

The content of the article:

1. Causes and risk factors
2. Forms of the disease

3. Symptoms

   1. Hypervitaminosis A
   2. Hypervitaminosis D
   3. Hypervitaminosis of B vitamins
   4. Other hypervitaminosis
4. Diagnostics
5. Treatment
6. Possible complications and consequences
7. Forecast

Hypervitaminosis is a pathological condition that develops with an excess intake of vitamins.

Vitamins are a group of low molecular weight biologically active compounds that are an essential component of metabolic processes and are necessary for the normal functioning of the body. At present, there are about 10 groups (or families) fat- and water-soluble vitamins, consisting usually of several representatives (so-called vitamers): A (A ₁, A ₂), D (D ₁, D ₂, D ₃, D ₄, D ₅), E, K (K ₁, K ₂), C, B (B ₁, B ₂, B ₃ (PP), B ₅, B ₆, B ₇, B₈, B ₉ (B _c), B ₁₀, B ₁₁, B ₁₂, B ₁₃, B ₁₅), N, P, U. The physiological role of a number of vitamins has not yet been fully studied; there is also no information on the daily requirement and the maximum allowable dosage of some of them.

Hypervitaminosis develops with an excess intake of vitamins into the body

Unlike other biologically active substances, vitamins are practically not synthesized in the human body. Single types of vitamers are formed, for example, in the intestines, but their number does not cover the daily requirement.

Information about the negative effects of excessive exposure to vitamins on the body in most cases is hypothetical or established only as a result of experiments on animals. The most pronounced reliable manifestations of hypervitaminosis are characteristic of fat-soluble vitamins A and D, as well as for folic acid (B ₉) and thiamine (B ₁).

Causes and risk factors

The main reason for the development of hypervitaminosis is an excessive intake of vitamins into the body with an incorrect dosage of vitamin-containing agents or self-administration of vitamin preparations without prior consultation with a specialist. In some cases, hypervitaminosis is the result of excessive consumption of foods rich in one or another vitamin.

Forms of the disease

Distinguish:

• acute hypervitaminosis - this is the most common form, occurs as a result of simultaneous ingestion or injection of an inadequately high dose of a vitamin preparation;
• chronic hypervitaminosis - is recorded much less often, as it develops as a result of systematic repeated intake of high doses of vitamins, several tens (and sometimes hundreds) of times higher than the therapeutic dosage.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypervitaminosis depend on the type of vitamin and have characteristic features in each case.

Hypervitaminosis A

Signs of acute hypervitaminosis A:

• psychomotor agitation or, on the contrary, depression of consciousness;
• headache;
• lack of appetite, dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea);
• increased body temperature;
• photophobia (photophobia);
• the development of seizures, paralysis.

Hypervitaminosis A is manifested by skin rashes, itching and flaking

In chronic hypervitaminosis A, similar symptoms are noted, less pronounced than in the acute form. In addition, there are:

• skin manifestations - dryness, itching and peeling of the skin, rashes of various shapes and localization, seizures in the corners of the mouth, as well as dry mucous membranes, hair loss, brittle nails;
• visual impairment - the so-called night blindness (deterioration of twilight vision), decreased acuity;
• deterioration in general health;
• specific damage to connective tissue - inhibition of the processes of osteo- and chondrogenesis, destruction of bone and cartilaginous tissues, osteoporosis (discharge of bone trabeculae);
• the formation of foci of calcification in the internal organs.

Hypervitaminosis D

In acute hypervitaminosis D, the following are noted:

• a sharp decrease in appetite up to a complete absence;
• drowsiness, lethargy, thirst;
• dry skin and mucous membranes;
• arterial hypertension;
• bradycardia (decreased heart rate);
• dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting, unstable stools);
• increased urination;
• the appearance of neurological symptoms (convulsions, loss of consciousness).

With hypervitaminosis D, sleep patterns are disturbed. During the day you want to sleep, but at night - no.

Chronic hypervitaminosis D is characterized by the following symptoms:

• disorders of the neuropsychic status of a cyclical nature (increased fatigue, weight loss, decreased tolerance to habitual physical exertion are replaced by episodes of increased activity, speech and motor excitement);
• violations of the "sleep - wakefulness" regime (sleepiness during the day, insomnia at night);
• damage to the parenchymal organs (kidneys, liver, spleen);
• neuromuscular symptoms (cramps, muscle twitching);
• the development of heart failure.

Hypervitaminosis of B vitamins

Acute and chronic forms of B vitamins hypervitaminosis have similar symptoms, the main difference lies in the rate of development of a pathological reaction.

Hypervitaminosis B ₁ is manifested by cholinergic urticaria (a rash on the forearms and upper body, accompanied by itching, fever, dyspeptic disorders), liver and kidney damage (up to acute failure), photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to sunlight).

Tonic cramps in the calf muscles signal hypervitaminosis B ₆

Hypervitaminosis B ₆ is expressed in progressive ataxia, loss of deep sensitivity of the lower extremities; while pain, temperature and tactile sensitivity are preserved.

Hypervitaminosis B _{9 is} characterized by tonic cramps (more often in the calf muscles), regardless of the time of day, as well as allergic reactions.

Other hypervitaminosis

Symptoms of other hypervitaminosis:

• with the mistaken administration of large doses of vitamin E, necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis may develop;
• hypervitaminosis K is characterized by the development of hemolytic syndrome exclusively in newborns;
• excessive intake of niacin (vitamin PP) is accompanied by facial flushing with a feeling of heat, allergic reactions.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of hypervitaminosis is based on establishing the fact of a previous overdose of a specific vitamin in combination with characteristic symptoms. To confirm hypervitaminosis, the concentration of the substance of interest in the blood serum is determined.

Treatment

Treatment of hypervitaminosis consists in the immediate withdrawal of vitamin preparations [and / or changes in diet] in order to prevent further intake of the vitamin into the body.

As a rule, after the abolition of the intake of vitamin-containing agents, the condition returns to normal.

The first action for hypervitaminosis is to cancel the drug that caused the overdose

In a severe or moderate condition, symptomatic treatment is recommended in accordance with the clinical picture.

Possible complications and consequences

Complications of hypervitaminosis can be:

• acute renal failure;
• acute liver failure;
• heart failure;
• neurological symptoms (seizures, sensory disturbances, autonomic dysfunction, etc.).

Forecast

With timely diagnosis and treatment of the resulting disorders, the prognosis is favorable.

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Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author

Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".

The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!