UK Pharmacist Warns 75% of Adults Taking Supplements Against Vitamin A, D, E, K Megadosing
Updated
Updated · My London · May 27
UK Pharmacist Warns 75% of Adults Taking Supplements Against Vitamin A, D, E, K Megadosing
1 articles · Updated · My London · May 27
75% of UK adults now take supplements, and two-thirds use them daily, prompting pharmacist Wendy Lee to warn that “vitamin-maxxing” can turn common pills into toxic overdoses.
Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K pose the biggest risk because the body stores them: excess vitamin D can drive calcium dangerously high, while too much vitamin A can damage the liver and bones.
High-dose use can also backfire with other supplements—more than 1,000mg of vitamin C may cause cramps, diarrhoea and kidney-stone risk, and vitamin K, calcium, iron and vitamin E can interfere with medicines.
UK supplement consumption has been rising 13.1% a year since 2018, but Lee said most healthy adults do not need routine multivitamins and should use supplements only when evidence-based needs exist.
NHS guidance still supports targeted use, including vitamin D in autumn and winter and specific supplementation for groups such as pregnant women, vegans and older adults.
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