Certain drugs may be dangerous when used outside of acceptable dosage ranges, and similarly, some commonly used vitamins may produce toxicity when dosage is excessive. For example, Vitamin D, selenium and Vitamin B6 may all produce symptoms of toxicity when used in excess of recommended dosage ranges.
Some supplements may have blood thinning effects such as Fish Oil and vitamin E which can produce bleeding which may become fatal. Some supplements may counteract the effect of drugs. An example is the effect of Vitamin K which counteracts the blood thinner medication coumadin (warfarin) commonly used to treat atrial fibrillation and deep venous thrombosis.
Quality of Supplements May Vary
The quality of supplements may vary considerably, depending on site of origin and manufacturer. The cheaper supplements may contain ingredients which are less biologically active, or may contain adulterated or undesirable ingredients such as preservatives, fillers, soy, GMO, dairy, and wheat gluten. Higher quality supplements from reputable sources are usually more expensive. It may be advisable to seek guidance from a knowledgeable heath care practitioner regarding which supplements to use.
Articles With Related Content
Vitamin C Saves Dying Man In ICU
Jeffrey Dach MD
Links and References
1) http://annals.org/article.
Eliseo Guallar, SaverioStranges, Cynthia Mulrow, Lawrence J. Appel,
Edgar R. Miller, III; Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2013
Dec;159(12):850-851.
2) http://annals.org/article.
17 December 2013 Oral High-Dose Multivitamins and
Minerals After Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Trial
Gervasio A. Lamas, MD; Robin Boineau, MD, MA; Christine Goertz,
DC,
3) http://annals.org/article.
17 December 2013 Long-Term Multivitamin Supplementation and
Cognitive Function in Men: A Randomized Trial
Francine Grodstein, ScD*; Jacqueline O'Brien, ScD*; Jae Hee Kang,
ScD; Rimma Dushkes, PhD; Nancy R. Cook, ScD; Olivia Okereke, MD;
JoAnn E.
4) http://annals.org/article.
17 December 2013
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in the Primary Prevention of
Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: An Updated Systematic Evidence
Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Stephen P. Fortmann, MD; Brittany U. Burda, MPH; Caitlyn A. Senger,
MPH; Jennifer S. Lin, MD, MCR; and Evelyn P. Whitlock, MD,
MPH
5) http://ajcn.nutrition.org/
Am J Clin Nutr May 2004 vol. 79 no. 5 805-811
Breakfast cereal fortified with folic acid, vitamin B-6, and
vitamin B-12 increases vitamin concentrations and reduces
homocysteine concentrations: a randomized trial1,2,3
Katherine L Tucker, Beth Olson,
Peter Bakun, Gerard E Dallal,
Jacob Selhub, and Irwin H Rosenberg
6) http://now.tufts.edu/news-
Mild Vitamin B12 Deficiency Associated with Accelerated Cognitive
Decline December 5, 2012 Andrea Grossman
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).