Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects on the body. This could make them unsafe in some situations and harm or complicate your health. For example, the following actions could have harmful, even deadly, consequences. Getting our nutrients directly from a pill sounds easy, but supplements do not necessarily deliver on the promise of improved health.
Some can even be dangerous, especially if taken in higher than recommended amounts. We have heard a lot of encouraging news about supplements. A number of studies have highlighted vitamin D as a potential defence against a long list of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, depression and even the common cold. Omega-3 fatty acids have been promoted for preventing strokes and other cardiovascular events.
And antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are seen as promising silver bullets against heart disease, cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease. We need a range of nutrients every day to keep us healthy, such as calcium and vitamin D to protect our bones, folic acid to produce and maintain new cells, and vitamin A to preserve the health of our immune system and vision. Before taking any supplements for disease prevention, it is important to know whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks. To reach that conclusion, look at the results of well-designed studies.
A recent randomised trial in men suggested that multivitamins have potential cancer prevention benefits. For many of the other popular supplements, such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, results from randomised controlled trials should be available within the next five years, according to Dr. For vitamins and minerals, check the daily value (DV) for each nutrient to make sure you are not taking too much. Too much of certain supplements can be harmful.
Healthy or risky? Here’s what you need to know about possible harmful effects before you take that vitamin, mineral or herbal pill. Dietary supplements can be beneficial to your health, but taking supplements can also carry health risks. While some dietary supplements are well known and established, others need further study. Before making decisions about whether or not to take a supplement, talk to your health care provider.
Talk to your health care team before taking large doses of any vitamin, mineral or other supplement. In some cases, taking a combination of supplements or using them while taking certain medications could lead to harmful or life-threatening results. They also noted that, in previous studies, vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements appear to be harmful, especially in high doses. Some dietary supplements can help you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients if you do not eat a nutritious variety of foods.
While many supplements are certainly beneficial to health, the evidence varies widely, and it is important to know which ones may benefit your health and which ones may be harmful. Although supplements are not regulated in the same way as drugs, they have active ingredients that can affect your body and your health. For example, according to the National Academy of Medicine, vitamin D supplements prescribed by a doctor are beneficial. Some products are marketed as dietary supplements and actually contain prescription drugs inside that are not allowed in dietary supplements.
You may be trying to combat a vitamin deficiency or reduce your risk of certain diseases, or you may simply feel proactive about your health after taking a supplement that promises to improve your health. If the FDA deems a dietary supplement unsafe, it may withdraw the product from the market or ask the manufacturer to voluntarily recall it. In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements may contain minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes and many other ingredients. The FDA is not authorised to review the safety and efficacy of dietary supplement products BEFORE they are marketed.
The MyDS app provides the latest information on supplements and allows you to keep track of the vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other products you take. This Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) fact sheet provides information that should not replace medical advice. Manufacturers may say, for example, that a supplement promotes health or supports a body function (such as immunity or heart health).
