Dietary Supplements Risks

If a dietary supplement helps us lose weight, feel better, or improve our endurance, then often we assume that more of it will be better. But that is not true. We take vitamin supplements for many reasons: it could be in the form of dietary assurance or to keep away diseases, or even to treat a particular condition. But after a while, we often lose track of why we take them, or go about supplementing in differing ways. We reason our vitamin intake by saying that we do not eat adequate vegetables, even if veggies are more important than supplements.

Although specific products may be helpful to some people, there may be situation when these products can pose startling and unexpected risks. Many supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong effects in the body and side effects too. Taking a combination of supplements, using these products together with medicine, or substituting them in place of prescribed medicines could lead to harmful, even life-threatening results. Also, some supplements can have unwanted effects before, during, and after surgery. It is important to let the doctor and other health professionals know about the vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and other products that we are consuming, especially before surgery.

To make things clearer here are some examples of dietary supplements supposed to interact with specific drugs such as - Calcium and heart medicine (e.g., Digoxin), thiazide diuretics (Thiazide), and aluminum and magnesium-containing antacids. Magnesium and thiazide and loop diuretics (e.g., Lasix), some cancer drugs (e.g., Cisplatin, etc.), and magnesium-containing antacids. Vitamin K and a blood thinner (e.g., Coumadin).

While some of the pharmacological properties of dietary supplements can be advantageous, if taken in excess, their ingredients could produce toxic levels in y\our system and do more harm than good. The point lies in the fact that dietary supplements have bypassed the unbending screening of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for their efficiency and safety. We are the only persons who can regulate our own intake of these substances.



We should learn everything we can about dietary supplements before we take them. Reading up on their individual ingredients and their possible side effects and health risks can help us in the long run. In doing this, we will be aware what to expect before we begin taking them.

Some people should not take dietary supplements at all. Others should not take supplements at a particular time of their lives. Some people take medication or other substances to thin the blood. This decreases the likelihood of blood clots, but prolongs bleeding. Doctors recommend not to take ginkgo biloba and other substances that will further prolong bleeding.

If we become pregnant while taking any supplement, we should discontinue its use until we have consulted with our doctor. Our physician will need to know how long we were taking the supplement before conception. Also, since the ingredients in supplements can be passed on to a nursing infant, taking any supplements that could potentially put the child at risk should be avoided.

• Emma Bullock
• 15/04/2009, 12:59 PM
• 0 Comments