Health Risks and Benefits Of Dietary Supplements
It is essential to be aware that the Food and Drug Administration does not control supplements in the same manner that it does pharmaceuticals. This applies to dietary vitamins as well as goods used for bodybuilding (FDA). Therefore, before using a dietary supplement, it is important to think about both the benefits and the hazards to your health.
What exactly are nutritional supplements?
In order to supply the body with the nutritional assistance it needs, dietary supplements are made. They are as follows:
- Vitamins \sMinerals \sHerbals \sBotanicals
- Amino acids Enzymes
Supplements such as methandienone come in numerous forms: pills, liquids, powders, or bars. They might provide you with the important elements that your diet is lacking, but you shouldn’t consider them a replacement for a healthy diet.
Evaluation of the usefulness of dietary supplements
Jacob Gold, MD, an internal medicine physician at UCLA Health, says that he will sometimes take a multivitamin. “Personally, I’ll take a multivitamin occasionally.” “On a daily basis, I make sure to take a vitamin D supplement. Because it is beneficial to bone health and the hazards associated with taking it are relatively low, that is the one dietary supplement that I may suggest to my patients that they take.
Dr. Gold believes that the following supplements, when taken in the recommended amounts, are safe:
- Calcium, essential for the maintenance of healthy bones
- Vitamin D to maintain healthy bones
- Folic acid for women who are pregnant or who are attempting to become pregnant in order to assist in the prevention of birth abnormalities.
- B12 for vegetarians, who may be deficient in this dietary component that meat provides.
- B vitamins for alcoholics
The FDA does not evaluate or verify the safety or effectiveness of over-the-counter supplements, as Dr. Gold points out. According to Dr. Gold, “many dietary supplements, including multivitamins, have not been investigated in a scientific manner.” Because we do not fully understand what they are capable of or the dangers they provide, we must proceed with caution when using them.
Concerns regarding dietary supplements
According to Dr. Gold, “Everything that has an intended impact also has a side effect.” [Citation needed] “The reality is that if a supplement accomplishes something you want it to do, there is a good chance that it will also do something you don’t want it to do,” says Dr. Mercola.
According to Dr. Gold, dietary supplements that prove to be effective may eventually be reclassified as a controlled pharmaceutical product. As a direct consequence of this, they are investigated more thoroughly, dosing is better known, and hazards are plainly outlined. Because of this, he prefers to help his patients reach their health goals by prescribing medications rather than offering them over-the-counter nutritional supplements.
People have been known to utilize red rice yeast as a means of assisting in the management of their cholesterol levels. And, to tell you the truth, it contains the very same molecule that is found in statin drugs,” explains Dr. Gold. “But when I prescribe a statin to you, I know exactly how many milligrams I’m giving you, and I also know that this medication has been thoroughly researched. I’m sorry, but I have no idea what’s in the red rice yeast that you purchased from the health food store. This is due to the fact that there is no regulating authority checking supplement samples to determine what exactly is contained in them.
Dr. Gold has personal experience with the negative consequences that bodybuilding pills can have. There is creatine in several of these, which is an amino acid that can help grow muscle but can potentially be harmful to the kidneys. He has also discovered that many of these supplements include significant doses of caffeine, which is known to trigger the breakdown of muscle tissue, as well as hyperactivity and agitation.
Discuss the vitamins you’re taking with your primary care provider.
According to Dr. Gold, the most significant problem is that patients frequently fail to inform their primary care physicians about the dietary supplements they are taking.
It’s generally safe to take dietary supplements. According to Dr. Gold, “you probably won’t run into too many problems,” despite the fact that the benefits might not be immediately obvious. But if you don’t inform your doctor about the supplements you’re taking, he or she may give you a drug that has an adverse reaction when combined with the supplement. This has the potential to be extremely hazardous, and could even result in death.
Dr. Gold gives the following instances:
- Since Ginkgo biloba has the ability to thin your blood, taking it alongside another blood-thinning medication can be dangerous.
- It is possible for St. John’s wort to accumulate in the liver, which can lead to adverse interactions with other medications, including antidepressants.
- Ephedra is a stimulant that can lead to elevated blood pressure if taken in sufficient amounts.
- Patients who are using blood thinners should avoid ginseng because it may increase their risk of bleeding.
- Excessive usage of kava can cause damage to the liver, and some people have even required a liver transplant as a result.
- Black cohosh, which is commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms, has been linked to cases of liver failure.
According to Dr. Gold, “many of these adverse effects are uncommon, but they are still a possibility.” “The first and most important guideline about supplements is to always keep your primary care provider informed about what you are taking. We want to ensure that you are safe from adverse drug reactions caused by the combination of prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies.
