- If you or your child have eaten too much candy
vitamins you should call the poison control center immediately. - But you’re unlikely to need emergency help if you eat too many gummy vitamins.
- Eating too many gummy vitamins can cause diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, or headaches.
Although unquestionably more palatable than ordinary vitamins, gummy vitamins make it difficult for children to tell the difference between them and candies. This can lead to unintentional overconsumption.
In reality, poison center report getting phone calls every day about kids eating large amounts of gummy vitamins – sometimes 20, 30 or even 40 at a time.
Here’s what happens when you or a child take too many gummy vitamins and whether you should see a doctor.
Can you overdose on gummy vitamins?
It is possible to take too many gummy vitamins, but often this does not warrant medical attention.
Gummy multivitamins contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, some of which are toxic in high doses and some of which are not. These include:
- Water-soluble vitamins: These included vitamin Cbiotin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin B6 which are usually found in gummies. The body does not store water-soluble vitamins, so excess amounts are excreted in the urine and do not cause an overdose.
- Fat soluble vitamins: These included vitamin A, Vitamin Dand Vitamin E. These vitamins are stored in fat, so it is possible accumulate toxic amountsalthough symptoms are often moderate to mild.
- Minerals: These included potassium, calcium, sodium, and zinc. Minerals maintain water balance in the body and perform certain tasks, such as helping blood to clot or building bones. You can
overdose on minerals, but most cause vomiting before that happens.
General Council : It is important to note that all gummy vitamins differ in terms of recommended dosage. To find out how many gummy vitamins are too many, carefully follow the instructions on the label.
Here’s a breakdown of common vitamins, how toxic they become, and how many gummy vitamins it would take to achieve that.
Nutrient | AgeChildren: 4 to 8 years oldAdults: 19 years and over | Upper limit | How many gummy vitamins |
Vitamin A | ChildrenAdults | 900 mcg3000 mcg | 2.4 gummies4 gummies |
Vitamin C | ChildrenAdults | 650MG2000MG | 43 gummies66 gummies |
Vitamin D | ChildrenAdults | US$3,000 US$4,000 | 6 gummies4 gummies |
Vitamin E | ChildrenAdults | 300MG1000MG | 44 gummies74 gummies |
What happens if you eat too many gummy vitamins?
The side effects you may experience depend on the type of supplements in your gummy vitamins and how many you take.
Common symptoms for an overdose of vitamins are:
- Stomach ache
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Headache
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Fever
“Generally, you probably wouldn’t see any effect from a one-time overdose, but you should still call the poison control center,” says Susan B. Daly, MD, FAAP, pediatrician at To be pediatrics in Savannah, Georgia.
What to do if you or your child have consumed too many gummy vitamins
If you think you or your child have taken too many gummy vitamins, here are some steps Daly recommends you take:
- Call poison control number immediately: (800) 222-1222.
- Try to document how many vitamins were taken and what time your child ingested them. It’s also a good idea to have the child’s height and weight so that toxicity can be determined.
- Follow Poison Control recommendations. They may even recommend that you take your child to the emergency room where they monitor symptoms and eliminate toxins.
- To drink a lot of water
If your child has consistently taken more than the recommended dose of vitamin gummies for a long time, they may develop Chronic toxicitywhich justifies a visit to the doctor.
Signs of chronic toxicity include:
- Muscle and bone pain
- Hair loss
- Calcium deposits
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Headache
Insider’s Takeaways
Although the number of vitamins and minerals in children’s gummy vitamins should not cause a fatal overdose, caregivers should always treat ingestion of too many vitamins as an emergency and call the poison control center immediately for help. You should also keep gummy vitamins out of reach of children.