Supplements are substances to add nutrients to diet or to lower risk of health problems, like osteoporosis or arthritis. They come in the form of pills, capsules, powders, gel tabs, extracts, or liquids. They might contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, amino acids, herbs or other plants, or enzymes. Sometimes, the ingredients in dietary supplements are added to foods, including drinks. A doctor’s prescription is not needed to buy dietary supplements.
Are these supplements safe?
Supplements could be harmful, there is no available safety data for them. The regulatory authorities does not have authority over dietary supplements in the same way it does prescription medicines.
Few supplements might contain ingredients which can cause harm. It is betterto stay away from those unnecessary supplements.
If you are thinking about using dietary supplements consider below points before using them;
- Find out as much as you can about any dietary supplement you might take. Know all the ingredients in the list and read scientific articles to confirm safety of each ingredient.
- Just because something is said to be “natural” doesn’t mean it is safe or good for you. It could have side effects. It might make a medicine your doctor prescribed for you either weaker or stronger. It could also be harmful to you if you have certain medical conditions.
- Choose brands that your doctor, dietitian, or pharmacist recommend. Don’t buy dietary supplements with ingredients you don’t need. Don’t assume that more is better.
Click on below links to know about ingredients from supplements which caused toxicity and the case studies from medical articles.
1. Chromium Picolinate Toxicity
2. Autoimmune(-Like)” Drug and Herb Induced Liver Injury: New Insights into Molecular Pathogenesis