Health risks associated with taking too many supplements
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In an exclusive chat to Express.co.uk, Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Pharmacy, warned that certain supplements could be harmful. “Women over 40 shouldn’t take iron unless they have iron deficiency,” said Dr Lee. She explained: “Before menopause, women venesect themselves once a month by having a period.
“But after menopause, this doesn’t happen. Excess iron is toxic for the liver, heart and brain.”
Dr Lee also said to “beware of St John’s Wort, which induces liver enzymes and interferes with many types of medication, notably statins”.
As for vitamin C, taking too much of this type of supplement “can cause kidney stones”.
Dr Lee added: “Magnesium should not be taken at the same time as other vitamins, as it can delay absorption.”
The NHS stated: “Taking too much or taking [supplements] for too long could be harmful.”
There is one, however, that is recommended all year round for those who stay out of the sun – vitamin D.
But most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from April to September without the intake of vitamin D supplements.
While taking a daily vitamin D supplement may cause no harm, if you decide to take more than the recommended dosage, there can be consequences.
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Vitamin D toxicity, while rare, can lead to an excess of calcium in the blood, the Mayo Clinic points out.
As such, consequences can include nausea, vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination.
Vitamin D toxicity can progress to bone pain and kidney problems, so while supplementation can be safe, it’s only safe in the recommended doses.
Medical physician Dr Vivien Cherian said: “Most people take vitamins because they want to be on top of their health.”
While it could “seem like common sense” to take multivitamins, Dr Cherian isn’t convinced.
“There actually isn’t much evidence that a daily cocktail of essential vitamins and minerals actually delivers what you expect,” she said.
Yet, there are “no known risks to taking a daily multivitamin”, so Dr Cherian isn’t too concerned if somebody chooses to take one every day.
If you decided to take more than one supplement daily, say a multivitamin and a host of others, then that could be risky.
Dr Beth Kitchin, an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Alabama, explained why.
“You really can’t get toxic doses of nutrients through food,” she said. “But you can absolutely get toxic doses through supplements.”
Before taking any supplement, it is recommended to seek advice from your doctor.
Dr Fox Pharmacy is a fully regulated UK online doctor and pharmacy service managed by NHS GPs.
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