How Too Many Nutrients Can Make You Sick

While you need to consume a certain amount of the essential nutrients for good health, consuming too much of some of these nutrients can make you sick. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends getting most of your nutrients through food rather than supplements and following a balanced diet so you can meet your daily needs without going over your recommended calories for the day. If you do take supplements, avoid taking large doses of any single nutrient unless instructed to do so by your doctor.


Consuming too much of any of the macronutrients, which include fat, protein and carbohydrates, can cause you to consume too many calories and gain weight. If you gain excessive amounts of weight it can increase your risk for health conditions including heart disease. As your body mass index increases, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure and high cholesterol, increasing your risk for heart disease, according to a study published in "Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases" in 2010.

Fat-soluble Vitamins

Since the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K are stored in your fat cells, they can accumulate to toxic levels if you consume them in very high amounts. Consuming more than the tolerable upper intake level of vitamin A -- 3,000 international units per day -- can lead to symptoms including blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, birth defects and headaches. The UL for vitamin D is 100 micrograms per day, and consuming more than this can cause slowed growth, excessive calcium buildup in your blood, vomiting, nausea and decreased appetite. Taking vitamin E in excess of 1,000 milligrams per day can interfere with statin medications and blood thinners, and, although there isn't an UL set for vitamin K, excess intake can cause liver damage.

Water-soluble Vitamins

Your kidneys excrete excess water-soluble vitamins instead of storing them, but some of these vitamins can still be toxic or cause adverse effects in large doses. Niacin can cause flushing, upset stomach and red skin, and taking vitamin B-6 in large amounts can damage your nerves, causing difficulty walking and numbness. Consuming too much folate can mask symptoms of a vitamin B-12 deficiency, and excessive amounts of vitamin C can cause kidney stones, upset stomach and increased absorption of iron.


Copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese and zinc are all toxic in large amounts. Mineral toxicities can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the nutrient involved, including nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, confusion, weak pulse, tarry stools, muscle weakness, fainting, increased urination, blue lips, seizures, clammy skin, drowsiness, increased urination, dry mouth and slow heart rate.