Online Vitamin Supplements Selling Dangerously High Doses, Warns Which?
A hard-hitting Which? investigation has uncovered shockingly high doses of vitamins and minerals being sold across major online marketplaces. Big names like AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Superdrug, Temu, and TikTok Shop are pushing supplements packing vitamin levels way beyond NHS safety limits.
Vitamin D Overdoses: 25 Times the Safe Limit Found
The NHS recommends adults take just 10 micrograms (µg) of Vitamin D daily, with a maximum safe limit of 100µg. However, some sellers are flogging Vitamin D3 at a jaw-dropping 10,000 IU (250µg)—that’s 25 times the advised daily dose!
- Superdrug Marketplace, TikTok Shop, and eBay were caught selling these mega-dosed supplements.
- Nuke Nutrition quickly withdrew their 10,000 IU product after concerns were flagged.
- Even crazier, AliExpress listed Vitamin D3 capsules at a monstrous 50,000 IU (1,250µg), 12.5 times over the safe upper limit.
The NHS warns such mega doses risk hypercalcaemia, a dangerous calcium overload that can lead to vomiting, bone weakness, confusion, and kidney failure.
Kids’ Supplements Also Overshooting Vitamin D Limits
It’s not just adults at risk. Temu was found selling “Growth” and “Height Growth Maximiser” vitamin supplements for children with a colossal 2,500 IU (62.5µg) of Vitamin D — well over the NHS’s recommended max of 2,000 IU for under-10s.
Vitamin A, B6, and Zinc Doses Ring Alarm Bells
- Vitamin A: NHS advises max 1,500µg daily, EFSA suggests 3,000µg. Yet Mother Nature’s product on Etsy, TikTok, and eBay was found at 7,500µg — 2.5 times EU limits.
- Vitamin B6: Safe max is 10mg, but some supplements on Temu, Solgar, and Holland & Barrett hit a staggering 100mg — ten times the safe dose. Holland & Barrett has pulled these products after being contacted.
- Zinc: NHS caps intake at 25mg. The popular WeightWorld zinc on Amazon, plus Now Foods zinc sold on eBay and TikTok, all contained 50mg—double the limit—with some even labeled “Amazon’s Choice.” Superdrug’s offering from New Leaf also packs 50mg. High zinc can cause copper deficiency, leading to anaemia and fatigue.
Which? Calls for Immediate Crackdown on Dangerous Supplements
“It’s shocking that supplements containing potentially dangerous doses of popular vitamins and minerals are so readily available online,”
Sue Davies, Head of Food Policy at Which?, slammed. “Excess doses can cause serious harm, like liver damage and brittle bones. We urgently need stricter regulation, so consumers aren’t left at risk from these dangerously strong supplements.”
Retailers Scramble to Clean Up Their Digital Shelves
- AliExpress: Claimed the dangerous products were removed before Which?’s probe.
- Amazon: States all products meet current government rules but admitted safe limits are still debated.
- eBay: Called NHS and Food Standards advice “guidelines” and said policies are under review.
- Holland & Barrett: Pulled high-dose B6 supplements; plans to reformulate to EFSA standards by October 2025.
- Mother Nature: Added doctor consultation warnings on high-dose products.
- New Leaf: Defended their 50mg zinc dose as flexible for colds and skin health.
- Superdrug: Removed all flagged items from their marketplace.
- Temu & TikTok Shop: Confirmed removal of the flagged listings and compliance with UK laws.
Stay Safe! Know Your Vitamin Limits
Experts warn: more isn’t always better when it comes to vitamins. Taking mega doses can cause serious health issues, not just waste your money.
Always stick to NHS-approved dosage limits. For full safety advice, keep an eye on updates from Which? and the NHS — and consult your GP before starting any potent vitamin supplements.
