3 minute read
Health
Mind Your B’s and Glu(cosamines)
By Amy Schmidt
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Do you take a daily vitamin or dietary supplement? Common vitamins include vitamin D and B12, minerals such as calcium and iron, herbs like echinacea and garlic and other products like glucosamine, probiotics and fish oil. These supplements come in a variety of forms: tablets, capsules, gummies, powders and even energy drinks and bars.
If any of this sounds familiar or can be found lurking in your medicine cabinet, have you mentioned it to your health care provider? Typically, when you have an appointment with your medical provider, you will be asked to review the list of medications you are taking. It’s critical that you list the new blood thinning medication your cardiologist put you on, but did you also remember to mention the new multivitamin you’ve started, the one with vitamin K in it?
We tend to consider vitamins and supplements as harmless, but many supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong effects in the body, especially in conjunction with other prescribed medications you may be taking. Vitamin K, for example, can reduce the effects of anti-clotting drugs such as Warfarin. St. John’s wort can speed the breakdown of many medicines and reduce their effectiveness (including some antidepressants, birth control pills, heart medications, and anti-HIV medications). Antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins C and E, might reduce the effectiveness of some types of cancer chemotherapy. Other supplements, if taken before surgery, can change your response to anesthesia. The list goes on with the point being the same— it’s incredibly important to list all the pills, powders, gummies and tablets you ingest. Consider everything an important medication that needs to be listed right alongside your blood pressure and cholesterol pills. A simple form found online can be helpful for keeping track of what you take. Google “dietary supplement record sheet” to find a convenient print out and bring it with you to your next visit.
Another thing to keep in mind when considering the intake of vitamins or supplements is that many manufacturers add vitamins, minerals, and other supplement ingredients to foods you eat, especially breakfast cereals and beverages. As a result, you may get more of these ingredients than you think, and more might not be better. Taking more than you need costs more and might also raise your risk of side effects. For example, too much vitamin A can cause headaches and liver damage, reduce bone strength, and cause birth defects. Excess iron causes nausea and vomiting and may damage the liver and other organs.
Pregnant and nursing women should be cautious about taking dietary supplements. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by a healthcare provider. Many supplements have not been sufficiently tested for safety in pregnant/nursing women or children.
Also keep in mind the term “natural” doesn’t always mean safe. Some all-natural botanical products can harm the body if not taken properly. A dietary supplement’s safety depends on many things, such as its chemical makeup, how it works in the body, how it is prepared, and the amount you take.
When meeting with your health care provider, it’s important to list all
medications you’re taking, including any vitamins and supplements. | STOCK
Communication is the bottom line. If you feel like you are deficient in a certain vitamin or mineral or feel you might benefit in some way from taking one, talk to your medical provider first. Together, you can decide what is best for your particular health needs.
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