Vitamins are not always beneficial to the body
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Currently, many people are not sure about the natural sources of nutrients, so they are increasingly turning to specialists in order to determine vitamins or minerals necessary for the body . Increasingly popular are tableted or soluble vitamin complexes.
Recent studies of European scientists have shown that the use of certain vitamins in too high a concentration can cause irreparable damage to the human body. Doctors believe that too much vitamin C or E can lead to a deterioration in overall health and even a reduction in life expectancy. Vitamin C, as well as vitamin E, are necessary for humans, but exceeding concentrations can be dangerous.
Vitamin C, which is also called ascorbic acid, is an organic compound that is one of the most essential substances for human life. From vitamin C depends on the normal functioning of bone and connective tissues, as well as neutralization of superoxide radicals. Detoxification of the liver and biliary tract is impossible without the presence of ascorbic acid in the human diet. The human body is unable to produce vitamin C on its own, but its daily rate is about 40 milligrams. Many vitamin preparations contain ascorbic acid, but the problem is that often the required dosage is exceeded several times.
Vitamin E is sometimes called a vitamin, which can provide youth and beauty. Such a comparison, most likely, arose after it became known about the restoring functions of vitamin E. The daily need for an adult is about 3-4 milligrams, but in vitamin complexes, the dosage is often exceeded tens of times.
For several months, scientists from Scotland conducted research, the results of which showed that too concentrated vitamin preparations can harm health. Experiments were carried out on small rodents, which were given a large amount of vitamin E and C daily for two months. To the surprise of specialists, vitamins that should protect the living organism from diseases, strengthen immunity and provide good health, in large doses were fatal. Scientists managed to establish that exceeding the daily allowance of the above vitamins adversely affects the overall health and life expectancy. Data obtained after the completion of the experiment indicate that the life expectancy of rodents who consumed too much vitamins was reduced by 25-30%.
The research leaders say that if a small amount of recognized nutrients is consumed, the effect will be expected: vitamins C and E participate in the detoxification of the human body, strengthen the immune system, which is necessary in modern ecology, positively affect the neutralization of free radicals. Vitamins can only harm your health if you consume them in a very concentrated form.