Hypervitaminosis

Abstract

Vitamins are readily available and sold in many different formulations and a wide variety of retail outlets. The food industry occasionally supplements foods with vitamins. Vitamins can be taken in excess and problems from hypervitaminosis, although uncommon, do occur. Vitamins are the essential organic substances that are required in small amount for the metabolic functions of the body. Vitamins like Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenate, and Vitamin K are also synthesized by the intestinal bacterial flora. Vitamin D is synthesized from Ergocalciferol by the ultraviolet rays of sun light. They participate in our body metabolism either as a prosthetic group or as a co-factor of an enzyme. Many scientists presumed earlier that only fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K can be stored in adipose tissue and liver and may produce toxicity. Water soluble vitamins like vitamin C or B-complex even if ingested in excess are excreted from the body. Now this concept was proved to be not true, some new findings are emerging out at the update level. Clearly, hypervitaminosis due to water soluble vitamins also occurs.