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Potential Risks of Using Dietary Supplements

    
Although certain products may be helpful to some people, there may be circumstances when these products can pose unexpected risks. Many supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong effects in the body. Taking a combination of supplements, using these products together with medicine, or substituting them in place of prescribed medicines could lead to harmful, even life-threatening results. Also, some supplements can have unwanted effects before, during, and after surgery. It is important to let your doctor and other health professionals know about the vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and other products you are taking, especially before surgery.

Here a few examples of dietary supplements believed to interact with specific drugs:

• Calcium and heart medicine (e.g., Digoxin), thiazide diuretics (Thiazide), and aluminum and magnesium-containing antacids.
• Magnesium and thiazide and loop diuretics (e.g., Lasix®, etc.), some cancer drugs (e.g., Cisplatin, etc.), and magnesium-containing antacids.
• Vitamin K and a blood thinner (e.g., Coumadin).
• St. John’s Wort and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs (i.e., anti-depressant drugs and birth control pills).

What Should I Know Before Using Dietary Supplements?

         
Be savvy! Follow these tips before buying a dietary supplement:

• Remember: Safety First. Some supplement ingredients, including nutrients and plant components, can be toxic based on their activity in your body. Do not substitute a dietary supplement for a prescription medicine or therapy.
• Think twice about chasing the latest headline. Sound health advice is generally based on research over time, not a single study touted by the media. Be wary of results claiming a “quick fix” that depart from scientific research and established dietary guidance.
• Learn to Spot False Claims. Remember: “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Some examples of false claims on product labels:
  • Quick and effective “cure-all.”
  • Can treat or cure disease.
  • “Totally safe,” “all natural,” and has “definitely no side effects.”
  • Limited availability, “no-risk, money-back guarantees,” or requires advance payment.
• More may not be better. Some products can be harmful when consumed in high amounts, for a long time, or in combination with certain other substances. 
• The term “natural” doesn’t always mean safe. Do not assume that this term ensures wholesomeness or safety. For some supplements, “natural” ingredients may interact with medicines, be dangerous for people with certain health conditions, or be harmful in high doses.  For example, tea made from peppermint leaves is generally considered safe to drink, but peppermint oil (extracted from the leaves) is much more concentrated and can be toxic if used incorrectly.
• Is the product worth the money? Resist the pressure to buy a product or treatment “on the spot.” Some supplement products may be expensive or may not provide the benefit you expect. For example, excessive amounts of water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C and B vitamins, are not used by the body and are eliminated in the urine.

Bottom Line

• Do not self diagnose any health condition. Work with your health care providers to determine how best to achieve optimal health.
• Check with your health care providers before taking a supplement, especially when combining or substituting them with other foods or medicine.
• Some supplements can help you meet your daily requirements for certain nutrients, but others may cause health problems.
• Dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure disease, or to replace the variety of foods important to a healthful diet.

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Website