Can You Overdose On Multivitamin And Mineral (Dietary Supplements)

Dietary supplements

Vitamin and mineral are essential nutrients needed in the body to carry out some vital function. Lack of these nutrients can cause some health conditions. To avoid these conditions, it is necessary to get them at the right quantity. What if you overdose on these supplements?

Source of Vitamin And Minerals

Vitamin and mineral are found in food especially fruits and vegetables. When we eat these, we get them at various proportion depending on the type of food, the state of the food and our health condition. When too much enters the body, the excess is excreted from the body as waste. However, when we get less, we get some disease condition. To recover on time, many persons turn to dietary supplements. The right amount of these nutrients needed by the body is known.

However, the right amount needed from supplements vary and depends on the quantity already in the body and the supplements dosage strength. Unfortunately, many supplements come with a specific quantity that may be too high or too low.
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Dietary supplements are drugs pills that contain one or more vitamin and/mineral supplement. Some come in capsule, syrup, tablet or other forms. They are generally prescribed by medical prescribers. However, there have been some questions raised over the years about their effectiveness.
It may interest you to know that the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (N.A.F.D.A.C) and other drug regulatory bodies only approve these products for use by humans.

There is yet an endorsement to ascertain the claims by the manufacturer how some of these supplements cure or prevent diseases. No research yet. That leaves us to personal opinion as to the use of these supplements.

Why Dietary Supplements?

The theory behind the use of supplements sound good. It all started when orange and lime prevented vitamin deficient seamen from scurvy. More studies indicated that the some of the vitamin in the orange and lime did the magic.

That lead to increase awareness on dietary supplements. Researchers decides to deliver this vitamins in a capsule, Kramer said, of which those efforts nearly failed. Another reason for the use of these nutrients is that it is believe that we need mega doses than what we get from food. The only solution is a pill with them.

Danger Of Dietary Supplements Overdose

The research on them have not been too convincing. It is generally believe that dietary supplements are safe at the right dose or have very minor side effects. Some even claim that no record of side effects with usage over the stated dose.

However, a recent accident in the United States of America of a man who had liver disease due to taking double dose of an already overdose prescription over a two year period of a dietary supplements strengthen my conviction that these supplements have side effects. He was found to develop kidney neuropathy that is irreversible. You can read the full story here.

Are Dietary Supplements Beneficial?

Researchers have proven that some conditions do require dietary supplements. When there is deficiency, it is necessary to get them from food. But when the food is not available and the pill is available, the pill should do. For example, vitamin D is gotten from exposure of the skin to early morning sunlight. For places without sunlight, the only way to get it is from their supplements. Even World Health Organisation (W.H.O) have given a pass mark for some very few selected supplements such as iodine and vitamin E which should be added to food products. But single supplement may not really produce the desired effect. Here is why.
All the vitamin and mineral in a food are in the right quantity. They all get absorb based on the the digestive system of the body. They are absorbed in a harmonious controlled manner. Scientist are yet to understand how these work. But it seem that they all support each other to achieve the result. Orange works better than vitamin c supplement when treating scurvy. From this, it is clear that getting one nutrient in high amount can throw everything off balance. Another example is the consumption of sea food which reduce the cardiovascular disease. Omega 3 fatty acid is believed to be responsible for this. Unfortunately, just omega 3 fatty acid have not produced the much needed desired result.
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One last problem. Some low amount of some nutrients prevent some chronic diseases. The use of dietary supplements increase the quantity of the nutrient in the body leading to increase risk of developing another disease. Oxidation have some beneficial effects to the body. They help to kill bacteria and malignant cells wiping them out before they can grow into tumor. Vitamin E and beta carotene found in the body reduce oxidation preventing cancer but an increase in the quantity in the body  increases the risk for prostate and lung cancer respectively. This shows that some antioxidants do more harm than good.
From all what I can see, the poor regulation by government is leading many to accept these supplements without question. It is also the main reason manufacturers may produce substandard product just to make sales. And there is no concrete research yet. Even the research currently underway will take years to finish. So when choosing a dietary supplements, you can consider the pros and cons.
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