Q. I have these jars with 150 tabs of vitamin c, 500mg each. I take several at a time throughout the day because it makes me feel really good and happy and tastes really good. It's like a drug to me. Is taking extreme amounts of vitamin c supplements bad for you?
A. Yes potentially.
I would seriously advise against doing so.
As a maintenance dose then 250-500mg is really a maximum ideal to aim for.
If you have a cold or flu then that can be increased temporarily to 1000mg but should be reduced back down to a maintenance dose after recovery.
Though vitamin C is not stored, in high doses it is not without its potential problems, which may include: gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), bleeding gums, decreased wound-healing, easy bruising, nosebleeds, weakened tooth enamel, swollen and painful joints, anaemia**, a decreased ability to fight an infection, a slowing of the metabolism that may lead to weight gain, rough, dry, scaly skin and/ or splitting hair.
[from ref: Medline Plus, link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm ]
** regarding anaemia however, if one was to supplement with iron, one may have the opposite scenario.....i.e. too much iron stored, which could be a problem, particularly in anyone with haemochromatosis [an iron storage disease] or with a genetic tendency towards it [i.e. it was in the family].
There is also a risk of kidney stone formation in those with a tendency.
So basically, toxic levels of vitamin C in the blood over time [that may occur from taking mega doses regularly] could lead to symptoms ordinarily characteristic of a vitamin C deficiency. Such symptoms may also become apparent [even if you did not have these symptoms when taking high doses] if you were to stop taking it suddenly.
Wean yourself off the high doses in stages so you don't display scurvy symptoms. And after this, take no more than 250-500mg a day as a maintenance dose.
Be safe, be well....insha'Allah.
Best wishes.
I would seriously advise against doing so.
As a maintenance dose then 250-500mg is really a maximum ideal to aim for.
If you have a cold or flu then that can be increased temporarily to 1000mg but should be reduced back down to a maintenance dose after recovery.
Though vitamin C is not stored, in high doses it is not without its potential problems, which may include: gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), bleeding gums, decreased wound-healing, easy bruising, nosebleeds, weakened tooth enamel, swollen and painful joints, anaemia**, a decreased ability to fight an infection, a slowing of the metabolism that may lead to weight gain, rough, dry, scaly skin and/ or splitting hair.
[from ref: Medline Plus, link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm ]
** regarding anaemia however, if one was to supplement with iron, one may have the opposite scenario.....i.e. too much iron stored, which could be a problem, particularly in anyone with haemochromatosis [an iron storage disease] or with a genetic tendency towards it [i.e. it was in the family].
There is also a risk of kidney stone formation in those with a tendency.
So basically, toxic levels of vitamin C in the blood over time [that may occur from taking mega doses regularly] could lead to symptoms ordinarily characteristic of a vitamin C deficiency. Such symptoms may also become apparent [even if you did not have these symptoms when taking high doses] if you were to stop taking it suddenly.
Wean yourself off the high doses in stages so you don't display scurvy symptoms. And after this, take no more than 250-500mg a day as a maintenance dose.
Be safe, be well....insha'Allah.
Best wishes.
Can deficiency of vitamin B cause symptoms similar to angina?
Q. Can deficiency of vitamin B cause symptoms similar to angina?
e.g tingling like feeling at the left arm.
e.g tingling like feeling at the left arm.
A. Yea long term deficiency of vit B1(thiamine) leads to a condition called "wet beri- beri", which in turn is characterized by symptoms similar to angina( breathlesnes, palpitations).
Will all these vitamins for my acne and such be good for me?
Q. I am taking green tea extract 500 mg twice a day and drinking 4 cups of green tea a day to help acne. I also take 3 ALA supplements a day too. will I be okay if I add 2 50mg zinc supplements and vitamin e also? I'm hoping that this will stop breakouts and clear it up.
A. It's so good that you're willing to take supplements to treat your acne instead of going from product to product. I mean your not deficient in Clearasil or Proactive are you? I don't know about the supps your taking now for acne, but I know vitamin A could help your skin A LOT. Zinc also helps the skin and has shown to in many studies but this is because it is involved in vitamin A utilization, retention and metabolism. So taking the two is a good idea just in case you're deficient in one or the other, or both!
"Zinc and vitamin A interact in several ways. Zinc is a component of retinol-binding protein, a protein necessary for transporting vitamin A in the blood. Zinc is also required for the enzyme that converts retinol (vitamin A) to retinal. This latter form of vitamin A is necessary for the synthesis of rhodopsin, a protein in the eye that absorbs light and thus is involved in dark adaptation. Zinc deficiency is associated with decreased release of vitamin A from the liver, which may contribute to symptoms of night blindness that are seen with zinc deficiency (14, 15).
Taking large quantities of zinc (50 mg/day or more) over a period of weeks can interfere with copper bioavailability. High intake of zinc induces the intestinal synthesis of a copper-binding protein called metallothionein. Metallothionein traps copper within intestinal cells and prevents its systemic absorption (see Copper). More typical intakes of zinc do not affect copper absorption and high copper intakes do not affect zinc absorption."
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/
Taking zinc in a multimineral formula would be better than taking it alone because of the above situation. Also you want to be taking the right vitamin A. Only vitamin a from fish oil is as RETINOL and this is the natural vitamin A that only causes toxicity at VERY HIGH doses compared with the synthetic versions that are toxic even in smaller amounts. All vitamin A in multivitamin preparations are SYNTHETIC. According to the study below, doses between 300,000 and 500,000 IU are only effective for acne but also caused a little overdose which only caused dry skin and chapped lips. I would suggest possibly 100,000 IU each day for a few months and look out for hypervitaminosis A (too much vitamin A). But please do your research. Also vitamin C reduces the toxicity and vitamin D should also be taken with vitamin A and is usually found together in fish oil caps. Vitamin E is very important also because it also extends the life of vitamin A in the body. Without enough vitamin E, vitamin A is destroyed by oxygen. See it's complicated every nutrient interacts with another so it's always best to get a bit of everything.
It's very important to get your vitamin D levels checked BEFORE you take supps of it. Hope this helps.
Oh one more thing, you will only absorb vitamins A, D and E if you take them with some sort of fat (butter, crieeam, cheese, oilive oil) otherwise you're just wasting your money. When you eat fat, bile is released which is ESSENTIAL for absorbing these nutrients. If there's no fat they are not absorbed and you will think they aren't working. Good luck
"Zinc and vitamin A interact in several ways. Zinc is a component of retinol-binding protein, a protein necessary for transporting vitamin A in the blood. Zinc is also required for the enzyme that converts retinol (vitamin A) to retinal. This latter form of vitamin A is necessary for the synthesis of rhodopsin, a protein in the eye that absorbs light and thus is involved in dark adaptation. Zinc deficiency is associated with decreased release of vitamin A from the liver, which may contribute to symptoms of night blindness that are seen with zinc deficiency (14, 15).
Taking large quantities of zinc (50 mg/day or more) over a period of weeks can interfere with copper bioavailability. High intake of zinc induces the intestinal synthesis of a copper-binding protein called metallothionein. Metallothionein traps copper within intestinal cells and prevents its systemic absorption (see Copper). More typical intakes of zinc do not affect copper absorption and high copper intakes do not affect zinc absorption."
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/zinc/
Taking zinc in a multimineral formula would be better than taking it alone because of the above situation. Also you want to be taking the right vitamin A. Only vitamin a from fish oil is as RETINOL and this is the natural vitamin A that only causes toxicity at VERY HIGH doses compared with the synthetic versions that are toxic even in smaller amounts. All vitamin A in multivitamin preparations are SYNTHETIC. According to the study below, doses between 300,000 and 500,000 IU are only effective for acne but also caused a little overdose which only caused dry skin and chapped lips. I would suggest possibly 100,000 IU each day for a few months and look out for hypervitaminosis A (too much vitamin A). But please do your research. Also vitamin C reduces the toxicity and vitamin D should also be taken with vitamin A and is usually found together in fish oil caps. Vitamin E is very important also because it also extends the life of vitamin A in the body. Without enough vitamin E, vitamin A is destroyed by oxygen. See it's complicated every nutrient interacts with another so it's always best to get a bit of everything.
It's very important to get your vitamin D levels checked BEFORE you take supps of it. Hope this helps.
Oh one more thing, you will only absorb vitamins A, D and E if you take them with some sort of fat (butter, crieeam, cheese, oilive oil) otherwise you're just wasting your money. When you eat fat, bile is released which is ESSENTIAL for absorbing these nutrients. If there's no fat they are not absorbed and you will think they aren't working. Good luck
What type of vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to depression?***?
Q. I've had mild depression for a long long long time...(maybe 10 years). I'm just wondering if perhaps certain deficiencies lead to depression and if there is a way I can be tested for deficiencies. For example, I know a lack of vitamin B can have effect on mood. How do they test vitamin b levels?
And what about hormonal imbalances? Can that lead to depression as well?
And what about hormonal imbalances? Can that lead to depression as well?
A. Deficiencies in the following vitamins and minerals can lead to chemical imbalances in the brain that can cause symptoms of depression -
- B Vitamins (e.g. B1, B6, B12, B9)
- Vitamin D
- Selenium
Clinical research shows that a diet and lifestyle contributing to low levels of these vitamins and minerals may contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Unfortunately, many adults do not receive the optimal amount of these vital nutrients.
Hormonal imbalances can also lead to signs and symptoms of depression as well. According to allaboutdepression.com, "The hypothalamus also controls the function of the pituitary gland which in turn regulates key hormones. Other structures within the limbic system that are associated with emotional reaction are the amygdala and hippocampus. The activities of the limbic are so important and complex that disturbances in any part of it, including how neurotransmitters function, could affect your mood and behavior."
- B Vitamins (e.g. B1, B6, B12, B9)
- Vitamin D
- Selenium
Clinical research shows that a diet and lifestyle contributing to low levels of these vitamins and minerals may contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Unfortunately, many adults do not receive the optimal amount of these vital nutrients.
Hormonal imbalances can also lead to signs and symptoms of depression as well. According to allaboutdepression.com, "The hypothalamus also controls the function of the pituitary gland which in turn regulates key hormones. Other structures within the limbic system that are associated with emotional reaction are the amygdala and hippocampus. The activities of the limbic are so important and complex that disturbances in any part of it, including how neurotransmitters function, could affect your mood and behavior."
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