Gummy vitamins or gummy supplements are an up and coming trend that can make taking your daily supplements feel as enjoyable as eating candy. You might take your daily dosage and then find yourself wanting to reach for another. But can you safely indulge? This leads us to the main question of this blog post: “can you overdose on gummy vitamins?”.
Before we answer this question, let’s first state that excessively eating anything is not recommended. It’s also important to note that not all gummy vitamins are created equal. This post will explain the different types of vitamin gummies and answer the question of whether you can overdoes on gummy vitamins and ACV gummies.
What Kinds Of Vitamins Can You Find In Gummies?
There are 2 types of vitamins, fat-soluble and water-soluble. Solubility refers to what medium the body uses to absorb these vitamins, fats, or water. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are the fat-soluble vitamins (1), while the water-soluble vitamins are the B vitamins and vitamin C (2).
Can You Overdose On Water-Soluble Vitamins From Gummies?
Vitamin toxicity can occur when too high when an excessively high dosage of any vitamin is consumed. However, the kidneys filter out excess water-soluble vitamins and they are excreted in urine (3). Therefore, the likelihood of overdosing on water-soluble vitamins is low, but not impossible.
Additionally, high dosages of certain vitamins can cause side effects. For example, niacin (aka vitamin B3) intake can cause niacin flush which is characterized by a reddening of the skin due to blood vessel dilation (4). Niacin flush is considered a minor side effect, though higher dosages can affect blood pressure, blood sugar, the gastrointestinal tract, and even vision (4). This is just one example, but each vitamin can cause different effects if you overdose on them.
Can You Overdose On Fat-Soluble Vitamin Gummies?
Fat-soluble vitamins get stored in the body and can therefore accumulate and lead to vitamin toxicity. Depending on the degree of vitamin toxicity, the effects can range from mild to life-threatening. For example, hypervitaminosis A (excessive vitamin A levels) can lead to headaches, blurred vision, coordination problems, sore muscles, drowsiness, coma, and even death (5). Therefore, it is crucial that you do not overdose on vitamins.
Can You Overdose On ACV Gummies?
Apple cider vinegar gummies are one of the popular types of supplement gummies. Excessive intake of ACV have been observed to lower potassium levels which may cause muscle weakness and paralysis (6). However, the amount of ACV gummies you would have to eat in order to overdose on apple cider vinegar is likely quite high as no cases of overdosing on ACV gummies have been reported to our knowledge.
Based on the experience of one staff member here at Approved Science®, eating 8 of our ACV gummies in a sitting, on one occasion was safe. Nevertheless it important to remember that this is only one individual’s experience and the long term safety of repeatedly eating this many ACV gummies has not been tested. Additionally, it is important to remember that these gummies do contain sugar and too much sugar intake can be a whole other monster.
Bottom Line
You can overdose on gummy vitamins, though the number of gummies it would require varies based on what kind of vitamins are included as well as their dosage. With water-soluble vitamins, the risk over overdose is small because the kidneys filter them out in urine, but there is a higher risk with fat-soluble vitamins because they get stored in the body. For your safety, we recommend sticking to the guidelines on the supplement package or following your doctor’s recommendation. Even though they look and taste like candy, gummy vitamins can still have their risks. Always consult with a qualified health professional when it comes to determining your supplement regimen.