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Vitamin and mineral supplements - what to know
Part of Better Health Channel, Victoria State Government
AUOfficial or government body
This describes who publishes a source, not how reliable it is.
Open source (opens in a new tab)Link checked August 2026
About this source
Australian government consumer guidance on when vitamin and mineral supplements help, why high doses are unsafe, and how supplements can interact with prescribed medicines.
Where this source is used
Used in 3 places across 1 domain.
Questions
Lifestyle
Supplements & Therapies
- Are supplements safe? Could they interact or cause harm?
Supports this
“Taking high doses of vitamins or other supplements can cause harm, and some vitamins become toxic in large amounts.”
Says plainly that large amounts are not better, that doses above the recommended intake can cause health problems, and that the fat-soluble vitamins build up in the body. It adds that several minerals reach toxic levels at only five times the recommended intake.
Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble, which means they are stored in the body and if taken in high doses can be toxic.
High doses of vitamin supplements are unsafe - Are supplements safe? Could they interact or cause harm?
Supports this
“Supplements can interfere with how prescribed medicines work, including the ones prescribed in ALS/MND.”
A government health service saying the same thing independently, and giving an example of how far it can go: at very high doses, supplements can stop anticonvulsant medicines from working.
Some complementary medicines, such as vitamin and mineral supplements can interact with prescription medicines and medical treatments.
Seek professional advice when taking vitamin and mineral supplements - What are supplements and complementary/alternative therapies, and where do they fit?
Supports this
“Supplements can have a real place in specific situations, such as correcting a genuine deficiency on medical advice.”
Says a varied diet normally provides enough of each vitamin and mineral, but that some people do need supplements to correct a deficiency, and that supplements should be taken on professional advice rather than in place of food.
some people may need supplements to correct vitamin or mineral deficiencies
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
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