Safety and risk You are more likely to have side effects from dietary supplements if you take them in high doses or instead of prescription drugs, or if you take many different supplements. Some supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or, if taken before surgery, may change the response to anesthesia. For one thing, dietary supplements can sometimes interact with each other, as well as with over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. In addition, unlike drugs, the U.S.
UU. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not authorized to review the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. It is up to manufacturers to ensure that their products do not contain contaminants or impurities, are properly labeled and contain what they claim. In other words, the regulation of dietary supplements is much less stringent than that of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Other research published the same year, on the dietary habits declared by a group of Americans, linked daily doses of more than 1000 milligrams (mg) of calcium with an increased risk of death from cancer (although the National Cancer Institute points out that other studies suggest otherwise). In addition, the data showed that people who consumed adequate amounts of magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A and K had a lower risk of death, but only if they got those nutrients from food rather than from supplements. Confused? National Institutes of Health (NIH) fact sheets provide detailed information on the benefits and risks of individual vitamins and minerals, as well as herbal supplements. And if you're managing an underlying health condition (especially if you're taking medications) or are pregnant or breastfeeding, play it safe and talk to your healthcare team before adding any new supplements to your regimen.
While supplement trends come and go, here are seven supplements that have historically been popular, and in all cases, experts recommend taking them with care, if at all. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium in the body, and having enough of it is critical to health and well-being, and offers the promise of protecting bones and preventing bone diseases such as osteoporosis, according to the NIH. Vitamin D supplements are popular because it's difficult (if not impossible for some) to get enough from food. In addition, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), our body produces vitamin D when bare skin is exposed to direct sunlight, but the increase in time spent indoors and the widespread use of sunscreen, as a necessary way to prevent skin aging and skin cancer, have minimized the amount of vitamin D that many of us get from sun exposure.
But vitamin D supplements are a sensitive topic. Sometimes, it can seem like guidelines and research are contradicting each other. The truth is that the enthusiasm for vitamin D supplements is outpacing the evidence. And high doses aren't a good option.
In healthy people, blood levels of vitamin D greater than 100 nanograms per milliliter can cause additional calcium absorption and cause muscle pain, mood disorders, abdominal pain and kidney stones, notes the Cleveland Clinic. It can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. That said, vitamin D supplements may benefit certain people, including those at risk of deficiency, such as people with darker skin, certain health conditions and older adults, according to MedlinePlus. The most recent consensus statement from the American Geriatrics Society specifically suggests that people over 65 can help reduce the risk of fractures and falls by supplementing their diet with at least 1000 IU of vitamin D per day, in addition to taking calcium supplements and eating foods rich in vitamin D.
Keep in mind that vitamin D supplements and medications can interact with each other. Medications that don't mix well with vitamin D include the weight-loss drug orlistat (Xenical, Alli), several statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), thiazide diuretics (such as Hygroton, Lozol, and Microzide), and corticosteroids such as prednisone (Deltasone, Rayos, Strapred), according to the NIH. St. John's Wort is a plant used as a tea or in capsules, with supposed benefits for depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, menopausal symptoms, insomnia, kidney and lung problems, obsessive-compulsive disorder, wound healing and more, says the NIH.
John's wort will be effective in treating mild depression. For example, a review of short-term studies looked at 27 clinical trials involving about 3,800 patients and suggested that the herbal remedy worked as well as certain antidepressants in reducing symptoms of mild to moderate depression. However, according to Dr. Denise Millstine, an internist in the integrative medicine department at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, “the biggest problem with St.
John's wort and its drug interactions. St. According to the NIH, St. John's wort may also reduce the effectiveness of other medications, such as birth control pills, chemotherapy, drugs for HIV or AIDS, and drugs to prevent organ rejection after a transplant.
John's Wort, read about possible drug interactions and ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of this supplement, as well as how it compares to your other options. Calcium is essential for a strong skeleton, but as with all nutrients, too much of this mineral can be harmful. As noted by the NIH, more than 2500 mg a day for adults ages 19 to 50 and more than 2000 mg a day for people aged 51 and over can cause problems. With calcium supplements, hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis and an increased risk of heart disease are risks, although research is conflicting, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The NIH recommends 1,000 mg of calcium a day for women ages 19 to 50 and 1,200 mg a day for women ages 51 and older. The recommendation for men ages 19 to 70 is 1000 mg a day and 1200 mg a day for men age 71 and older. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, there are several food sources of calcium, such as low-fat plain yogurt, tofu, skim milk, cheese, and fortified cereals and juices. Calcium deficiency, or hypocalcemia, can be detected through routine blood tests.
If you have low blood calcium levels despite having an adequate dietary intake, your doctor may prescribe a calcium supplement. Do you think that a healthy lifestyle requires not only good-for-you food, exercise and enough sleep, but also taking a daily multivitamin and multimineral supplement? Considering that, according to the NIH, roughly a third of adults in the United States and a quarter of young people take them, you'll be surprised to learn that the jury is still out on whether they're useful. A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, which examined data from nearly 40,000 women over the age of 19 who were part of the Iowa Women's Health Study, found that, on average, women who took supplements had a higher risk of premature death than women who didn't take them. Multivitamins did little or nothing to protect against common cancers, cardiovascular disease, or death.
For women of reproductive age, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid to help prevent birth defects. Your doctor may prescribe you multivitamins if you have malabsorption syndrome, a condition in which your body doesn't absorb vitamins and minerals properly. However, in general, Manson says, “a supplement can never replace a healthy diet. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil has been touted as a means to reduce heart disease and other ailments.
However, there is increasing evidence to suggest that fish oil supplements have questionable benefits. However, there is currently not enough positive evidence for doctors to prescribe fish oil supplements to all patients. In addition to conflicting research results, omega-3 deficiency is very rare in the United States, according to the NIH. An important drug interaction with omega-3 supplements is coumadine (warfarin).
However, many people don't get enough omega-3s in their diet for optimal health. According to the Chan School of Public Health, omega-3s play a critical role in the formation of hormones that relax artery walls, reduce inflammation and help blood clotting. The best way to get adequate and safe amounts of omega-3s is to eat a variety of foods rich in them. The three main types of omega-3 are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
According to the NIH, the following are some dietary sources of omega-3 EPA, DHA, and ALA. Tofu, tempeh and soy milk are good plant-based sources of protein, fiber and other key nutrients, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Some women also take soy in supplement form because the plant contains estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones that are thought to ease menopausal symptoms. However, some health experts have expressed concern that isoflavones in soy supplements may contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer.
The good news is that large-scale human studies have shown no increased risk of breast cancer by eating whole soy foods, such as tofu and edamame, in moderation, according to Cancer, Net. However, there hasn't been enough research done on soy protein isolate (SPI), the dust that forms when protein is removed from the rest of the plant, to know its true effect on breast cancer risk, Millstine says. According to the Mayo Clinic, women with a family history of breast cancer or thyroid health problems may be more vulnerable to these effects. But again, this is theoretical and more studies are needed.
In addition to supplements, SPI is often found in energy bars, veggie burgers, and some soups, sauces, smoothies, and breakfast cereals. The pill, a progestin-only contraceptive, would be the first birth control pill available without a prescription and could help reduce unwanted pregnancies. Women are turning to TikTok to share their stories of struggling to get a diagnosis of ovarian cysts, which can twist or rupture if left untreated. The Plan B birth control pill for the day after doesn't stop a pregnancy by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, the FDA clarified.
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Even worse, the researchers wrote: “Some clinical trials show that some of these antioxidant nutrients may increase the risk of cancer.”. Far from reducing the risk of cancer, as many people believe, high doses of some antioxidant supplements may increase it, evidence suggests. Most drug companies and herbal supplement producers don't investigate potential drug interactions, so the risks of taking supplements with other medications are largely unknown. Give up antioxidant supplements and safely reduce your risk of cancer by quitting smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and eating a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains.
While multivitamins have a low risk of drug interactions, the NIH recommends that smokers and former smokers avoid taking multivitamins with high levels of vitamin A or beta-carotene because these nutrients may increase the risk of lung cancer when consumed as supplements. A previous study looked at people at high risk of cardiovascular disease and also reported no benefit. While it is true that vitamins and minerals are essential to health, it is not true that taking them in the form of pills, capsules or powder, especially in megadoses, is necessary or has no risks. However, dietary supplements are not completely safe and taking them can have risks, especially for people receiving cancer treatment.
The healers offered a variety of instructions and herbs, but none voluntarily offered relevant data about the possible side effects or risky interactions that can occur when taking an herb with a medication. .
