What Happens If You Eat Too Many Vitamin Gummies

Gummy vitamins may be chewy, fruity and a sweet way to deliver nutrients to your body, but can you actually have too many?

Gaby McPherson is a registered dietitian from the Midwest who specializes in community nutrition. She has a passion for encouraging others to eat well in simple, practical ways that are realistic for the whole family. Gaby loves involving her toddler in cooking and baking at home, creating messes and memories alike.

Maria Laura is EatingWell's senior nutrition & news editor. As part of the nutrition team, she edits and assigns nutrition-related content and provides nutrition reviews for articles. Maria Laura is a trained dietitian, almond butter lover and food enthusiast with over seven years of experience in nutrition counseling.

If swallowing pills makes you grimace or you're unable to chew tablets safely, gummy vitamins may make an easy alternative that tastes yummy going down. While multivitamins have been available in the U.S. since the 1940s, per the National Institutes of Health, one company claims to have created the first gummy vitamin in 1997. Since then, many supplement brands have been producing these nutritious confections. According to Grand View Research, in 2022, the global dietary supplements market was valued at $163.9 million.

According to a 2020 study in Clinical Toxicology, 65% of gummy vitamins on the market are made for children (hence brightly colored character-themed packaging), yet, plenty of adults take gummy multivitamins too. "Multivitamins are supplements containing different minerals and vitamins that people need in order for their bodies to function properly. Many individuals don't get the required levels of essential nutrients from food intake, and this causes adverse health outcomes. Dietary supplements like multivitamins help bridge this gap," says Kevin Huffman, D.O., CEO and founder of AmBari Nutrition.

Whether it's berry punch or tropical citrus, their candy-like taste and texture are a good reminder to take them daily, especially for those who may forget about their multivitamins. On the flip side, their candy-like flavors may cause some to overeat gummy vitamins. So, what happens if you eat too many gummy vitamins? This article will be a tell-all about taking gummy vitamins in excess.

Gummy vitamins are gelatin-based alternatives to vitamins in powder, pill or other forms. While every gummy vitamin brand is unique, it's common for gummy vitamins to contain ingredients such as glucose syrup, sugar, water, fruit and vegetable juice concentrate, natural flavors and oils. Besides their various colors and shapes, gummy vitamins appeal to consumers due to their fruity flavors. Gummy vitamins can be multivitamins, single nutrients like the all-popular vitamin C gummies or offer a nutrient combo such as omega-3 gummies with vitamin D.

Sweet, chewy and sometimes even coated in sugar—gummy vitamins resemble chewy candies in many ways, but the difference lies in their contents. Gummy vitamins contain essential nutrients and minerals, depending on the brand. Their flavors outshine chalky chewable vitamins and multivitamin pill aftertastes, which could be a risk factor for eating too many. Here are some things you may experience if you take too many gummy vitamins.

"Signs that you may be taking too many vitamins at once include digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea," says Whitney Prude, Pharm.D., BCPS, NBC-HWC, owner of Whole & Happy Living. More specifically, excess amounts of vitamin D can raise calcium levels in your body and lead to nausea and vomiting. Magnesium is known for its laxative effects, and in large amounts, unabsorbed magnesium salts in the bowels could trigger gastric movement, leading to diarrhea, per the NIH. According to the NIH, zinc can also be a digestive delinquent when there's too much, causing nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and gastric distress.

Your favorite foods may smell or taste differently if you take too many nutrients. Aside from causing digestive problems, several nutrients taken in excess can influence your taste buds, altering your taste and smell. According to a 2021 review in the Australian Prescriber, zinc can change your taste and smell even at nontoxic levels. Selenium can leave behind "garlic breath" or a metallic taste, while a bitter taste in your mouth can signal too much folic acid.

Low iron levels are common in early childhood and pregnancy, increasing the chances of developing iron-deficiency anemia. Iron can be difficult to add to gummy vitamins because of their taste and form; therefore, many brands leave them out. Young children and pregnant people at risk of iron deficiency should seek the help of a medical provider for iron supplementation. "While many gummy vitamin brands do not contain iron, be aware that some do. When eaten in excess, iron can have detrimental side effects ranging from gastrointestinal distress to iron poisoning," says Dahlia Rimmon, M.S., RDN.

Daily gummy vitamins could offer you more added sugars than you hoped. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage limiting added sugar intake to make room for nutrient-dense foods. Added sugars typically come from sweetened beverages, desserts, sweet snacks and candy. The American Heart Association encourages no more than 25 grams of added sugar daily intake for women and 36 grams for men. Some gummy vitamin varieties offer 3 to 8 grams of added sugar per serving, contributing anywhere from 8% to 32% of added sugar intake daily. "Although convenient and tasty, gummy vitamins may contain added sugars and calories, which can contribute to weight gain and dental issues if consumed excessively," says Prude. People who may need to watch their added sugar intake closely to help better manage their blood sugars may need a gummy vitamin with low amounts of added sugar or switch to vitamin form free of added sugars.

"If you are taking more than the recommended number of vitamins on the bottle, you are taking too many. Some people think that "if some are good, then more is better." This is simply not the case. Vitamins and supplements are not benign, and they do have side effects and can be dangerous when taken above the recommended amount," says Prude. Many gummy multivitamins carry fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, minerals and other nutrients such as omega-3 fats and choline. Here are a few common types of nutrients they may contain:

"Fat-soluble vitamins —vitamins A, D, E and K— have the potential to accumulate in the body and reach toxic levels if taken in excessive amounts over time," says Prude.

"Water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and the B vitamins are typically excreted through urine if taken in excess, but extremely high doses can still lead to adverse effects," says Prude.

Calcium, potassium and magnesium are minerals that many gummy vitamins contain. But like vitamins, excess amounts of minerals can cause harm. "Taking too much of certain vitamins or minerals can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients. For example, taking high doses of calcium can interfere with your body's ability to absorb iron, which may lead to iron deficiency. Plus, high doses of zinc over an extended period of time can result in a copper deficiency," says Alyssa Pacheco, RD.

Below is a breakdown of nutrients common to gummy vitamins, the upper limit (UL, the level at which they become toxic) and how many gummy vitamins you must take to reach toxicity. Please note the table serves as just an example, since it's only based on one vitamin brand—Smarty Pants Kids Formula and Smarty Pants Adult Formula. The specific number of gummies it takes to meet the UL depends on the brand, and many gummy vitamin brands are on the market. You can see that for most of the given nutrients, it would take a massive amount of gummies to reach the UL for this particular brand. However, other gummy brands may contain far more nutrients than this.

Dietary supplements are not under FDA regulation, and that means there's potential for them to contain harmful ingredients or lack the nutrients they promise to possess. Prude offers guidance in selecting safe gummy vitamins: "When choosing a dietary supplement, you want to look for a product that has a UPS Verified stamp on the label, which stands for the United States Pharmacopeia."

Prude explains why the USP-verified stamp is important to identify when shopping for trustworthy supplements. "When you see the USP Verified stamp on a dietary supplement label, it indicates that the product contains the ingredients listed on the label, in the declared potency and amounts, and does not contain harmful levels of specified contaminants. Further, the supplement will break down and release into the body within a specified amount of time, and it has been made according to FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices using sanitary and well-controlled procedures," says Prude. Prude encourages consumers to check USP-verified brands on their websites to make things more straightforward.

Depending on the brand, gummy vitamins could be made with artificial dyes and fillers, so it's better to choose a brand free of these unnecessary ingredients.

"Gummy multivitamins may not meet all of your needs, especially if you are deficient in iron or another nutrient. Most gummy multivitamins do not contain iron and may not contain enough other nutrients to help you correct a nutritional deficiency. Speaking with a registered dietitian can help you develop a plan to meet all of your needs," says McKenzie Caldwell, M.P.H., RDN, a fertility and prenatal dietitian.

Eating above the recommended serving size of gummies in one day would be too many.

Eating too many vitamin C gummies could lead to excess vitamin C in your body. Going above the upper limit of vitamin C intake, which is 2,000 mg for adults and 650 mg for children ages 4 to 8, can lead to symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and cramps, according to the NIH.

"The side effects of taking multivitamins can vary depending on the specific formulation and individual factors. Generally, common side effects may include upset stomach, constipation or an unpleasant taste in the mouth," says Prude.

If the number of gummies you're chewing exceeds the recommended serving size, you're taking too many vitamins at once. Knowing if you're exceeding the recommended nutrients your body needs may take more investigating because nutrients are found in supplements and foods. Take inventory of all of the supplements you're taking and bring them to your medical provider. If you're experiencing digestive upset, a funny taste in your mouth, or any other unusual symptoms, let them know.

Gummy vitamins are the sweetest and arguably the most taste-bud-friendly supplements that commonly include essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D and calcium. Generally, it's difficult to overdose on gummy vitamins if you're taking the recommended serving size. If you take too many, your body may communicate through symptoms, including digestive troubles, changes in smell or taste or dental issues.

It can help to stick to USP-verified supplements that are free of harmful artificial ingredients and offer the nutrients you might need. Most healthy people don't need supplements, so taking multivitamins daily may not be necessary. To know for sure, speak with your medical provider about supplementation, and talk with a registered dietitian to find ways to revamp your eating routine with high-nutrient foods.