Are Health Supplements Effective?
Many people believe that taking multivitamins and other health supplements will
help them to stay healthy or feel more energetic ofor.agricharts. They may also take these

In fact, most of the supplements sold in stores have not been rigorously tested and
very few have been shown to be effective. And they may actually be harmful. Almost
70,000 calls to poison control centers in the US each year are directly related to
dietary supplements ofor.agricharts.com, and many of these result in serious outcomes.
Supplements may contain harmful ingredients, such as heavy metals or steroids.
They may also interact with other medicines and cause side effects. In the worst
cases, they can even be life-threatening. In addition, some supplements are taken in
large doses, which can be dangerous to your health and can lead to toxicity.
Most vitamins that we need are found naturally in food, and our bodies can use
them easily in the correct balance. But the body cannot always absorb nutrients in
the amounts that are provided by food, and some of them — such as folate – are
better absorbed from a supplemental form than from a food source.
Some studies suggest that multivitamins do not lower the risk of heart disease,
cancer or death. Other research suggests that high doses of antioxidants such as
vitamins C and E or selenium might interfere with certain medical treatments for
cancer by reducing the effectiveness of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
The Johns Hopkins nutrition experts recommend that most people rely on whole
foods for their daily vitamins and minerals. These foods also provide a variety of
other health benefits, including the fiber that helps reduce the risk of obesity and
digestive irregularities.

If you do choose to take a vitamin or mineral supplement, be careful about the
claims that are made on the label. While the FDA requires that companies follow
some guidelines, they can make false or misleading claims on their labels. For
example, a nutrient such as folate in a supplement or fortified food can cause
diarrhea when taken in excess. It can also reduce the effectiveness of certain
antibiotics such as tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones, and it can interfere with some
antidepressants and birth control pills.
It’s best to get your vitamins and minerals from whole foods, especially those that
are rich in folic acid (like leafy green vegetables and legumes), potassium and
magnesium. You should also limit your intake of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids,
which are available in a few fish species. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is
particularly important to talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplements.
These substances can have an adverse effect on unborn and nursing babies, as well
as some adults.