9 Vitamins & Supplements That DESTROY Your Liver & Kidneys

that deliver multiple vitamins/minerals at very high doses (10×, 50×, 100× the Recommended Daily Allowance) often marketed as “health boosters.”

How it harms
The body may handle typical nutrient amounts well, but when doses are extremely high, vitamins/minerals may act like drugs (not just nutrients). The liver and kidneys must metabolise and excrete the excess.

A fact sheet: “Severe side effects such as kidney stones, liver or nerve damage… can occur from 10 to over 100 times the DRI.”

Key risk factors
Taking multiple high-potency multivitamins or stacking them with other supplements.

Assuming “more is better” and ignoring upper intake limits.

How to protect yourself
Read labels: check % Daily Value and how many times the RDA a dose supplies.

Don’t combine multiple high-potency multivitamins unless advised by a professional.

Periodically monitor liver and kidney function if using high-dose formulas.

✅ Summary Tips for Safe Supplement Use
Always check why you’re taking a supplement — is it to fill a real deficiency or just “to be safe”?

Prefer getting nutrients from food first. Supplements are to fill gaps, not replace healthy diet.

Check upper intake limits (ULs) for vitamins/minerals — just because you can buy a high-dose doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Be cautious about “stacking”: taking several products that include the same nutrients and add up to an excessive total.

If you have liver disease, kidney disease, or are taking medications, consult your doctor before high-dose supplementation.

When using high-dose supplements (especially fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts), get baseline and periodic monitoring of liver enzymes (ALT/AST), kidney markers (creatinine, BUN), and mineral/ vitamin blood-levels.

Ensure you use reliable, third-party-tested supplements, because the industry is not regulated like pharmaceuticals: contamination or mislabelling is possible. Stay well hydrated, especially when using protein supplements, high doses of vitamin C, or minerals.

Recognize symptoms of potential trouble: fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing skin/eyes), dark urine, reduced urine output, swelling, unusual bleeding/bruising. If these occur, stop supplements and seek medical evaluation.