Dangers Versus Safety Of Nutritional Supplements

The medical gives the evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of nutritional supplements in preventing and /or slowing the progression of degenerative diseases. For these supplements to be effective for this purpose, we must take them over a lifetime. We’ll want to use them at much higher levels than the RDA’s , and we are already an unhealthy population, so it is critical these nutrients be virtually free of any toxic effects and safe for use in strong doses.

Antioxidants are certainly safe when taken correctly. Nutritional supplements are simply nutrients we get from our foods, only at a higher level than is possible from regular eating. On the other hand, pharmaceutical drugs may possess some clinical benefit in preventing some chronic diseases, but they inherently create a risk to the patient. Every time a physician prescribes a medication, especially if it is for the treatment of a chronic illness, he must explain the potential danger for the use of that drug.

Since properly prescribed and administered medication is the major cause of death in the U.S., it is time physicians and health-care providers begin to face this major health crisis. Only a handful of deaths have been reported in the last several years related to supplements. And these have been cases in which individual have taken many times the amounts recommended for overdose of supplements in the children.

Vitamin A- of all the nutritional supplements, straight vitamin A causes the most concern. Vitamin A toxicity can occur in adults who take in excess of 50,000 IU per day for a prolonged period of time. A lower dose may also create toxicity if the patient has liver disease. Signs of vitamin A toxicity include dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss, gingivitis, anorexia, nausea, fatigue, and irritability.

Beta-carotene- Beta –carotene has been used in high doses over several years without a single reported adverse effect. Some individuals develop a yellowing of the skin called carotenodermia, but this is totally begin and reverses completely once the beta-carotene is reduced or discontinued.

Vitamin E-  Although vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, it has a fantastic safety record. Clinical trials of vitamin supplementation as high as 3,200 IU per day have not shown any adverse effects. Vitamin E inhibits platelet aggregation and decreases the risk of blood clots in much the same way aspirin does. This property of vitamin E in reducing the heart disease.

Vitamin C- Vitamin C is safe even at very high doses, although some people may experience abdominal bloating, gas, or diarrhea. At one point, there was concern that vitamin C supplementation might increase the risk of kidney stones. This was found in only one clinical trial, however, and the last four similar trials did not substantiate this concern.

Folic acid- Folic acid supplementation may mask an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency. Therefore, people should always take vitamin B12 supplements in tandem with folic acid. However, there has not been reported any serious problems of taking folic acid even up to 5 grams per day. This is another reason that cellular nutrition is a safe way to supplement your diet.

 

No toxic effects have been associated with supplementation of vitamins.

 

 

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