How to determine hypervitaminosis in a child

The body’s perception of vitamins is evidenced by its external condition and the functioning of internal organs and systems. Frequent colds, pale and dry skin, irritability and loss of strength - these and other conditions indicate a lack of vitamins and minerals. However, they can be provoked not only by hypovitaminosis, and therefore the panacea for these conditions is not only taking fortified preparations and products. Reckless and uncontrolled consumption of vitamins develops the opposite disorder in the body - hypervitaminosis , which consists in saturating the body with one or another vitamin. The good thing is in moderation, and therefore it is important to form an idea of ​​what hypervitaminosis , why it is dangerous and how to prevent it.

What is hypervitaminosis?

Hypervitaminosis is a functional disorder that occurs as a result of an excess of one or more vitamins in the body. There are acute and chronic hypervitaminosis.

Acute hypervitaminosis gains strength due to a single dose of a high dose of the vitamin, and its manifestation is most often represented by symptoms of poisoning.

Chronic hypervitaminosis is formed as a result of regular and long-term consumption of high doses of vitamins; it has less noticeable symptoms, but is no less harmful to the body.

The causes of hypervitaminosis are mainly due to excessive consumption of pharmaceutical preparations containing vitamins, which is often combined with obtaining the same vitamins from natural products. Therefore, doctors recommend coordinating the need for vitamin therapy with a professional specialist, and not taking vitamin and mineral complexes at your own discretion.

In addition to an overdose of a vitamin, the cause of hypervitaminosis can be individual intolerance to drugs and increased sensitivity to a particular vitamin. In this case, any amount of vitamin entering the body will cause an adverse reaction. You can again protect yourself from deterioration in health by consulting with your doctor about the need to consume a particular vitamin in the form of a pharmaceutical preparation or by eliminating a natural product containing an allergen vitamin from your diet.

Symptoms of hypervitaminosis D in infants

Symptoms common to all ages are indigestion, difficulty breathing, increased blood pressure, headaches, joint and muscle pain and cramps. It is difficult to identify most of these signs in a small child who cannot say what hurts. Symptoms hinting at excess vitamin D in children:

• taking a long time to fall asleep, restless sleep, crying at night;
• frequent regurgitation or even vomiting;
• loss of appetite, sudden weight loss;
• slower hair growth;
• severe thirst, increased urine output;
• constipation or diarrhea.

When the first signs appear, be sure to consult a doctor and tell them what medications and vitamins your baby is receiving.

How does hypervitaminosis manifest itself?

The effect of each vitamin known to mankind on the human body is so individual that satiety with different vitamins manifests itself in different ways. All hypervitaminosis is united by symptoms similar to poisoning, especially when the mechanism of acute hypervitaminosis is triggered.

A difference is also observed between hypervitaminosis of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. The latter (namely vitamins A, E and D), due to their ability to accumulate in the body, cause more severe intoxication. Hypervitaminosis with water-soluble vitamins is recorded much less frequently and has less dangerous consequences for the body, and the reason is that vitamins of this category can be excreted from the body along with urine.

Since each vitamin in the human body determines a different set of functions, hypervitaminosis with each of them must be analyzed in particular and move downwards - from more dangerous types of hypervitaminosis to less dangerous ones.

Hypervitaminosis A

Vitamin A saturation occurs either due to excessive consumption in tablet form, or due to frequent consumption of sea fish, seafood, and liver. Hypervitaminosis A develops both in childhood and in adults. The symptoms are similar, and in adults they are supplemented by several clinical manifestations.

Hypervitaminosis A should be suspected when several of the following symptoms are combined, taking into account that the person has consumed tablets or vitamin-rich foods; the possibility of individual intolerance should not be excluded. Signs of hypervitaminosis A:

• lethargy, weakness, reluctance to move;
• development of hydrocephalus (fluid accumulation in the head);
• sleep disturbances, irritability, tearfulness and other symptoms of an irritated nervous system;
• lack of appetite, upset stool, nausea and vomiting, and similar disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• hair loss, inflammation of the mucous membranes, cracks and dry skin, dehydration, low-grade fever and other symptoms of intoxication and poisoning;
• skin rashes similar to scarlet fever rashes;
• brittle nails and hair.

Among the symptoms that can be observed in people of any age, in adulthood and old age, hypervitaminosis A manifests itself:

• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• joint pain;
• decreased vision;
• increased cholesterol levels in the blood;
• bradycardia and related disorders;
• disruption of the liver, spleen and kidneys.

Hypervitaminosis A in pregnant women is fraught with miscarriage or premature development of labor. Chronic hypervitaminosis A in pregnant women can lead to deformities and various malformations of the fetus.

Hypervitaminosis D

Hypervitaminosis D extremely rarely develops only due to satiety with products containing it. More often, excessive sun exposure is involved in the process, that is, uncontrolled intake of vitamin D and fish oil. Calcium supplements also affect the absorption of vitamin D, so it is necessary to combine them as prescribed by a professional physician. An overdose of vitamin D in childhood is especially dangerous for the development of severe defects, and in general, the clinical manifestations of hypervitaminosis D are similar to the symptoms of hypercalcemia, and these are:

• lethargy, inactivity, whims and other deviations from adequate behavior;
• feeling of thirst and the need for increased water consumption;
• against the background of constant thirst, polyuria develops;
• decreased appetite;
• nausea and vomiting;
• unreasonable weight loss;
• increased body temperature to subfebrile, sometimes fever;
• the occurrence of seizures.

To such universal symptoms we can add several signs specific to hypervitaminosis D in adulthood:

• bradycardia, cardiopathy and cardioneurosis;
• atherosclerosis;
• hypercalcinosis due to a long-term excess of calcium, the retention of which is facilitated by hypervitaminosis D;
• yellowness of the skin;
• muscle weakness, tremors of limbs;
• joint pain, pain in the heart area.

Chronic hypervitaminosis D is the basis for the development of osteoporosis. For pregnant women, hypervitaminosis D is fraught with abnormal development of the fetus and defects in the musculoskeletal system.

Hypervitaminosis E

Vitamin E is one of those vitamins, a sufficient amount of which can be obtained from naturally consumed foods, provided that a person eats a varied and at the same time balanced diet. In this case, it is difficult to provoke hypervitaminosis E; this happens more often with uncontrolled consumption of pharmaceuticals, at the same time the vitamin is absorbed both from them and from food.

The clinical picture of hypervitaminosis E is as follows:

• headaches, fatigue, weakness, constant tiredness (including in the morning);
• muscle and joint pain;
• disorder in the functioning of the stomach and intestines;
• changes in the structure of bone tissue and an increase in fractures against this background;
• visual impairment, double vision.

Medical research practice shows that an excess of vitamin E interferes with the normal absorption of vitamins A, D and K.

Hypervitaminosis of B vitamins

An excess of B vitamins does not lead to severe intoxication, but can cause some discomfort. Common symptoms, each of which can be explained by hypervitaminosis of any vitamin from a given group, include:

• redness of the skin;
• hypersensitivity of the skin;
• dizziness and headaches of unknown origin;
• upset stool, abdominal pain, nausea, and sometimes vomiting
• sleep disturbance, most often insomnia;
• cramps, mainly in the calf muscles.

An excess of a certain B vitamin can affect the function of a certain organ, namely:

• hypervitaminosis B2 determines liver and heart dysfunction, explains the appearance of cracks and sticking in the corners of the mouth, photophobia and conjunctivitis;
• hypervitaminosis B5 provokes water retention in the body, which can manifest itself as prolonged diarrhea;
• hypervitaminosis B6 can cause coordination problems, numbness of the limbs and the inability to hold small objects in the hands;
• hypervitaminosis B9 provokes cramps of any muscle in the absence of any other reason;
• hypervitaminosis B12 is manifested by allergic reactions and urticaria, obvious rash, cardiac dysfunction, thrombosis of small vessels, and in advanced cases (with large dosages) anaphylactic shock may occur.

Hypervitaminosis C

Hypervitaminosis C occurs, or rather manifests itself, extremely rarely. This is explained by the ability of this substance to be excreted in the urine in case of excess. However, prolonged and apparently high intake of vitamin C may result in the following unpleasant symptoms:

• itching and hyperemia (redness) of the skin;
• irritation of the urinary tract and resulting discomfort;
• dizziness and headache.

Excessive consumption of vitamin C can cause a decrease in blood clotting, increased blood pressure, impaired carbohydrate metabolism, and an increased risk of kidney stones.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Remember that treatment of hypervitaminosis must be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor! The specialist determines the cause of the disease based on the patient’s test data. Therapy consists of three main points that promote a speedy recovery.

First, the intake of excess vitamin is reduced to the required daily dose. This is achieved by adjusting a person’s diet and following a diet.

Next, symptomatic treatment begins. Painful or allergic reactions of the body to hypervitaminosis are eliminated. If you carry out only symptomatic therapy without reducing the supply of vitamins from outside, the disease will progress!

The last stage is detoxification. The body is cleansed of excess of certain substances, since a surplus of vitamins is similar to poisoning.

It is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. Carefully monitor the dosage of vitamins you take, having previously agreed on prevention with a specialist. Hypervitaminosis threatens all people, depending on age groups, so take it seriously!

Hypervitaminosis: the terrible power of excess vitamins

A frightening reaction from parents is caused by symptoms that indicate malfunctions in the functioning of various internal systems of the child. Fatigue, hair loss or peeling skin usually resembles a lack of vitamins. And since the child’s body needs vitamins to normalize biological processes, mothers stuff their babies mainly with fruits and vegetables. But such manifestations may indicate the opposite situation - excess vitamins.

Hypervitaminosis is a disease caused by an overdose of vitamins. In other words, this is vitamin poisoning, so its symptoms are similar to ordinary food poisoning. Due to the increasing popularity of vitamin supplements, children are increasingly encountering this disease. Various supplements based on nutrients and minerals are used for treatment, prevention and support of good health. Their reasonable consumption has a positive effect on the development of children. But some substances that exceed the norm even slightly are toxic and quite dangerous.

The effect of an overdose of some vitamins has not been fully studied. Scientists' opinions are divided on two fronts. Some say that megadoses of vitamins save you from cancer. Opponents of this theory admit that the development of cancer is provoked by taking huge doses of vitamins.

Diagnosis of hypervitaminosis D in Israel

To diagnose hypervitaminosis D, the following are used:

• Laboratory criteria for hypervitaminosis D: increased concentrations of phosphorus and calcium in the urine and blood, increased concentrations of calcitonin and decreased PTH (parathyroid hormone).
• Sulkovich's urine reaction : the child's urine is mixed with Sulkovich's reagent and the content of calcium salts in it is determined by the intensity of turbidity.
• X-ray: intensive deposition of lime in the epiphyses of long bones, increased porosity of the diaphyses.
• Histologically : deposition of calcium salts in the renal tubules, bronchial vessels, coronary vessels of the heart, muscles, lung tissue, liver, stomach.

What does this mean?

Too much vitamin D in children can cause harm that will last the rest of their lives. The main problem is that when there is an excess of vitamin, bones grow too quickly - faster than joints and muscles can strengthen. In the long term, this leads to various curvatures of the spine, frequent fractures and dislocations. There are a number of other risks:

• Osteoporosis is a deficiency of calcium in bone tissue. As a result, bones become brittle, joint covers may become ossified, and the spine may become deformed.
• Resorption of bone marrow connective tissue. Our bones have a spongy structure. White and red blood cells mature in the cells of this sponge. If the connective tissue is not strong enough, hematopoiesis and immunity suffer.
• Atherosclerosis is deposits on the walls of blood vessels. Leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the arteries, deterioration of blood supply to organs. In the most severe cases, it can lead to blockage of blood vessels with blood clots and necrosis.
• Increased calcium deposition in internal organs - organs lose elasticity, increasing the risk of internal injuries and a number of diseases.

​How to avoid overdose

It should be remembered that not a single vitamin preparation is useful on its own. All of them only make up for the deficiency and can be harmful if there is no deficiency. A healthy child whose mother receives normal nutrition should not have a lack of vitamin D in the sunny season. In cold weather, when there is little light, preventive vitamin intake is justified, but only as prescribed by a doctor.

The most common cause of excess vitamin D is self-medication. Parents noticed some symptoms, interpreted them based on information from popular literature or the Internet, and independently decided that the child needs more vitamin D. Don’t be overly arrogant, consult a pediatrician - and you will avoid this and many other problems.

What foods contain vitamin A?

Essentially, vitamin A is a combination of retinoids and carotenoids. Retinoids are mainly found in foods of animal origin, carotenoids in plant foods.

Below is a list of products that contain large amounts of this substance:

• Carrot.
• Pumpkin.
• Pepper.
• Apricot.
• Mango.
• Broccoli.
• Spinach.
• Liver.
• Fish fat.
• Seafood.