Are you taking too many vitamin substitutes?

I don't take vitamin supplements, there's no need. I have an absorption problem. I'm low on B12 and ferritin stores. A year of supplements from the Doctors and levels didn't rise. A ferritin infusion and B12 injections saw my levels raise slightly.

I'm not absorbing the B12 and the ferritin though food either. So I need the 3 monthly injections and infusions.

I know people are trying to be helpful but I really wish they'd listen when I say we shouldn't take supplements without our Doctors knowledge, we should get enough through a well balanced diet.

Living in Dubai I'm constantly told that as I don't spend much time in the sun as it's too hot, I should take a Vitamin D supplement. I however don't have low levels of Vitamin D and I should also take calcium supplements. Calcium and vitamin D supplements can protect against cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

However taking calcium can impair iron absorption, which I mentioned I'm already not getting enough of and there are side affects from too many vitamins. People think that because they can purchase vitamin tablets off the shelf, for as little as 99p for Vitamin tablets, that they are harmless and I should follow their lead if I want to improve my health.

The health issues I have due to low ferritin stores and low B12 are as follows:

• dizziness
• headache
• itching
• confusion
• lethagy
• chronic fatigue
• bone pain
• numbness
• breathlessness 

I also have:

• elevated platelet count
• high white blood cell count

Therefore I do not wish to add the following symptoms to my ever growing list by overdosing on supplements, that my stomach won't absorb anyway.

Side effects of too much Vitamin D

• Elevated Blood Levels. 
• Elevated Blood Calcium Levels.
• Nausea, Vomiting and Poor Appetite. 
• Stomach Pain, Constipation or Diarrhea. 
• Bone Loss. 
• Kidney Failure.

Side effects of too much B12

• restenosis (reoccurrence of narrowing of a blood vessel) after stent placement.
• high blood pressure immediately after injecting vitamin B-12.
• dizziness.
• headache.
• cold symptoms, such as coughing or runny nose (nasopharyngitis)
• anxiety.
• rash.
• itchy or burning skin.

Side effects of too much Calcium

• Excessive thirst and frequent urination. ... 
• Stomach pain and digestive problems. ... 
• Bone pain and muscle weakness. ... 
• Confusion, lethargy, and fatigue. ... 
• Anxiety and depression. ... 
• High blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Side effects of too much Iron

• chronic fatigue.
• joint pain.
• abdominal pain.
• liver disease (cirrhosis, liver cancer)
• diabetes mellitus.
• irregular heart rhythm.
• heart attack or heart failure.
• skin colour changes (bronze, ashen-gray green)

Getting the right vitamins from your diet.

For me I'm focusing only on B12 and Iron, I've pretty much cut out bread, crisps, sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks out of my diet due to recent dental surgery. Dairy products can reduce your ability to absorb Iron, but as I have an absorption problem, it won't make much difference. I can't eat nuts due to my teeth either and fortunately I love all the foods on the lists. I don't drink a lot of alcohol during the week, but I do have a latte everyday and I can't believe that just cutting that out altogether would solve my problems and everything I eat and drink is in moderation.

B12

• Beef, liver, and chicken.
• Fish and shellfish such as trout, salmon, tuna fish, and clams.
• Fortified breakfast cereal.
• Low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.
• Eggs.

Iron

• Include dairy products in your diet every day. 
• Learn to love leafy green vegetables. 
• Eat more fish. 
• Replace the meat in some meals with tofu or tempeh. 
• Snack on calcium-rich nuts like Brazil nuts or almonds. 
• Reduce your intake of caffeine, soft drinks and alcohol.