Antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, can reduce the toxic effect of chemotherapy drugs (allowing patients to tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy). In addition, dietary supplement packages are not required to include possible side effects, nor are there any rules on the maximum size of pills (an obvious risk for older people). Proper use of supplements can help you avoid the side effects and toxicities associated with overuse. A study published today in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the adverse effects of supplements were responsible for an average of about 23,000 emergency department (ED) visits per year.
Vitamin K may reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulants, while vitamin E may increase their potency and increase the risk of bleeding. Finally, if you experience side effects or an adverse reaction after taking a supplement, stop taking the product and report it to the FDA. In fact, there are many ways in which an essential nutrient supplement can produce an adverse effect. In some cases, the FDA has identified supplements that contain prescription drugs and other active ingredients that are not listed on the label, increasing the risk of side effects and additional reactions.
In turn, they can cause the same types of side effects and drug interactions as lovastatin, such as muscle pain and weakness and liver toxicity, according to the NIH. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't even determine if dietary supplements are effective before sending them to market shelves. Weight-loss products accounted for a quarter of all emergency department visits with a single product and disproportionately affected women, while men were more likely to suffer adverse effects from products advertised for sexual enhancement and bodybuilding. Fresh fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals, but manufacturers also add them to everyday foods, such as breakfast cereals and beverages.
Although dietary supplements are overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), no safety testing or FDA approval is required before a new supplement comes to market. Ask a pharmacist, doctor, or nurse to review everything you take to ensure that supplements don't cause harmful effects, either alone or in combination with commonly prescribed or over-the-counter medications. In this 10-year study, researchers analyzed surveillance data from 63 hospital emergency departments to estimate the annual number of emergency department visits associated with the adverse effects of dietary supplements.
