Vitamin Overdose

New government recommendations for C and E suggest that maybe Mother was right after all

My mother always told me that too much of a good thing can be bad for you. If I didn't already believe her, last week's bulletin from the Institute of Medicine would have persuaded me. The institute, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, made headlines last year with an alarming report about how often medical mistakes are made in hospitals. This time it tackles vitamins C and E and other so-called antioxidants, and it warns against ingesting too much of them.

Vitamins are America's favorite supplements; you may be among the 40% who took at least one within the...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!