Do you take a daily multivitamin? If so you may be at risk for exceeding safe limits of nutrient levels, says a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

More than 1,500 Canadian adults were surveyed about their use of dietary supplements and their overall dietary intake. They provided information about how often they took supplements, the foods they routinely ate, and the brands and dosages they consumed.

Although dietary supplement users had higher intakes of iron and folic acid than nonusers of supplements, up to 47% of users had intakes higher than those recommended by the US Institute of Medicine. Niacin, vitamin A and vitamin B6 were most likely to be consumed in excessive amounts.

Consuming excessive levels of niacin can lead to heart problems, whereas high levels of vitamin A intake can cause liver defects and birth defects in pregnant women. In addition people who consume excessive levels of vitamin B6 may experience neurological damage. If you take a daily multivitamin, it's a good idea to discuss this practice with your physician or registered dietitian. He or she can examine your dietary intake and alert you to any potential problems or symptoms and offer advice about levels of vitamins and minerals you should't exceed.

Related information Nutrition Center

Sources:  Troppmann L, Gray-Donald K, Johns T. Supplement use: is there any nutritional benefit? Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2002 Jun;102(6):818-25 (Abs.)