Definition

Noun: * An abnormal physical condition resulting from consuming an excessively high amount of one or more vitamins. This condition is a form of vitamin toxicity and is typically caused by over-supplementation, not by diet alone. It can have serious health consequences, particularly with fat-soluble vitamins (like A, D, or K) that accumulate in the body's tissues.

Usage

• The term is used in medical and nutritional contexts to describe a state of vitamin poisoning.
• It is often specified by the particular vitamin involved (e.g., hypervitaminosis A, hypervitaminosis D).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Chronic hypervitaminosis A can lead to liver damage and increased pressure on the brain.
  • The doctor diagnosed the patient's symptoms as hypervitaminosis D, caused by taking extremely high-dose supplements.
  • While rare, hypervitaminosis K is possible and can interfere with anticoagulant medication.

Advanced Usage

• "Iatrogenic hypervitaminosis": Refers to vitamin toxicity caused by medical treatment, such as excessive therapeutic administration.
  • The patient developed iatrogenic hypervitaminosis D after an incorrect dosage was prescribed.

Variants and Related Words

• Hypovitaminosis (n): The opposite condition; a deficiency of one or more vitamins.
• Avitaminosis (n): A severe or total lack of vitamins; a vitamin deficiency disease.
• Vitamin toxicity (n): A more general term for the harmful effects of excessive vitamin intake.

Synonyms

• Vitamin poisoning
• Vitamin overdose
• Vitamin toxicity

Antonyms

• Hypovitaminosis
• Avitaminosis
• Vitamin deficiency

Noun

1. an abnormal condition resulting from taking vitamins excessively; can be serious for vitamins A or D or K