Vitamin E overdose
Fat-soluble vitamin E (tocopherol) is essential for the normal course of many biochemical processes in the body. Its main functions are:
- protection of cell membranes from the damaging effects of free radicals (antioxidant effect);
- participation in the metabolism of retinol (vitamin A);
- improved cellular respiration;
- participation in the synthesis of many protein molecules, including heme (a component of hemoglobin);
- participation in the synthesis of sex hormones;
- participation in the development of placental tissue;
- immunomodulatory action.
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Vitamin E enters the body with certain foods (sunflower seeds, peanuts, walnuts, sea buckthorn, etc.) or in the form of a drug. Tocopherol is widely used in medicine for the treatment and prevention of many diseases and pathological conditions (myocardial infarction, infertility, miscarriage, etc.).
An overdose of vitamin E occurs, as a rule, as a result of self-medication - many mistakenly believe that vitamins are certainly useful, and the more they enter the body, the better.
How much vitamin E is needed for an overdose?
The daily requirement for vitamin E depends on the age and sex of a person, his health status, physical activity and dietary habits. For an adult, it is 8-10 IU. With significant physical exertion, during pregnancy and lactation, the need for tocopherol increases.
With prolonged use of vitamin E in doses exceeding the therapeutic one, it gradually accumulates in the body, over time this leads to signs of an overdose of vitamin E (hypervitaminosis).
Signs of overdose
An overdose of vitamin E can be suspected when the following symptoms appear:
- weakness, increased fatigue;
- apathy;
- dizziness;
- cramping abdominal pain;
- loosening of the chair;
- increased blood pressure;
- decreased libido (associated with a decrease in the secretion of sex hormones);
- hemorrhages in the retina of the eye and associated disorders of visual function (with severe hypervitaminosis).
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First aid for an overdose of vitamin E
Since vitamin E overdose is caused by its cumulative effect (i.e., gradual accumulation in the body), emergency treatment is not required when signs appear. It is necessary to stop further taking the drug and consult a doctor.
Antidote
There is no specific antidote for vitamin E.
When is medical attention required?
In case of an overdose of vitamin E, medical attention is always necessary, since this substance in high doses can cause significant dysfunctions of various organs.
There is no specific treatment for an overdose of vitamin E, symptomatic therapy is carried out aimed at correcting the existing disorders:
- With the development of arterial hypertension, antihypertensive drugs are used.
- With the development of infectious and inflammatory diseases, antibacterial agents of a wide spectrum of action are shown.
- In case of disorders of the blood coagulation system, it may be necessary to conduct plasma and / or blood transfusions.
- To protect liver cells from the damaging effect of vitamin E, hepatoprotectors are prescribed.
Possible complications
With a significant overdose of vitamin E, there is a violation of the blood supply in the basin of the renal arteries. This can lead to the development of chronic renal failure, edema, fluid accumulation in body cavities (pleural, abdominal).
Overdose of tocopherol also negatively affects the function of the immune system. Due to their sharp decrease, the victim becomes susceptible to infectious and inflammatory diseases, which are difficult and difficult to respond to standard methods of therapy. In severe cases, life-threatening septic conditions develop.
Prolonged overdose of vitamin E contributes to the development of disorders in the hemostasis system, which leads to the occurrence of internal and external bleeding. The risk of increased bleeding increases significantly with a simultaneous overdose of vitamin E with a deficiency (hypovitaminosis) of vitamin K.
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Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author
Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.
Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.
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!
