Although many people think that taking vitamins keeps them in good health, at times, the vitamins and other supplements you take may be causing you to suffer from some health problems. Along with overdosing on vitamins, allergies to vitamins can cause you to develop negative physical reactions, defeating the central purpose of taking vitamins.
In fact, roughly 80 percent of those taking vitamins or other supplements are actually stressing their bodies out, rather than providing themselves with nourishment, due to allergic reactions.
If you are allergic to a vitamin, the precise symptoms you experience will depend on:
However, complications of vitamin allergies can include any one or combination of the following symptoms:
While these symptoms characterize mild to moderate vitamin allergies, more severe allergies to vitamins can cause a person to go into anaphylactic shock, a violent reaction of an allergy that causes people to suffer from breathing difficulties, quickly lose blood pressure and possibly go into cardiac arrest.
Unfortunately, a large number of those with vitamin allergies go undiagnosed for extended periods of time because vitamins tend to be the last thing that people think might be causing them discomfort. For example, while some may fail to recognize their discomfort for allergy symptoms, others who do realize that they have allergies may attribute their symptoms to another factor, such as pet dander or dust.
As a result, if you start to experience any of the above symptoms (or any physical problems that are disrupting your health), see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Your doctor will perform a series of tests on you to determine whether or not you suffer from allergies, and then, if you have allergies, to evaluate the source of them. The two diagnostic tests for allergies include:
Vitamin C to Treat Allergies While some people have allergies to vitamins, others with allergies actually experience relief when they take vitamins. Specifically, Vitamin C has been proven to significantly reduce allergy symptoms for some. Because Vitamin C boosts the immune system, it effectively prevents the production of histamines while also promoting the quick elimination of foreign, allergy-causing substances. However, before taking Vitamin C to soothe your allergy symptoms, talk to your doctor about whether or not this treatment option is best for you.
While some people have allergies to vitamins, others with allergies actually experience relief when they take vitamins. Specifically, Vitamin C has been proven to significantly reduce allergy symptoms for some.
Because Vitamin C boosts the immune system, it effectively prevents the production of histamines while also promoting the quick elimination of foreign, allergy-causing substances. However, before taking Vitamin C to soothe your allergy symptoms, talk to your doctor about whether or not this treatment option is best for you.
In general, doctors agree that the best treatment for an allergy is to avoid the substance that causes you allergies. The same is true for vitamin allergies. Once you have identified which vitamin is causing you to suffer from allergies, stop taking supplements that include that vitamin (or series of vitamins if you are allergic to multiple vitamins).
To maintain your overall health, talk to your doctor about ways that you can stay healthy without taking the allergy-causing vitamin. For example, if you are allergic to Vitamin D, your doctor may suggest that you increase your calcium intake to be sure that you are still able to support your body's normal functioning.
Because your exact course of treatment will revolve around your allergies and overall health, make sure to work with your doctor closely.
Organic Nutrition (n.d.). Allergy Relief and Treatment. Retrieved November 9, 2007, from the Organic Nutrition Web site: http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/allergies.htm.
Tree.com provides information on health-related topics, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Please consult your physician if you have questions or concerns.