Taking dietary supplements without doctor's recommendation might lead to these health risks

Dietary and nutrition supplements are the undying trends of the health system. Internet searches, availability of different supplements, cool marketing gimmicks drive the urge to buy these products. But, the unhealthy part of this health trend is that many people do so without consulting a doctor and with a false belief that consuming supplements will only benefit the body and there can never be a side effect to this.

According to Dr. Bimal Chhajer, a former consultant at AIIMS and the founder of SAAOL Heart Institute, "Some common and popular supplements which general public consume without doctor consultations are Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2 & B6 Protein Supplements, Minerals such as Iron and calcium, Probiotics and Fish Oil."


The doctor says if supplements are taken in high dosage without proper consultation, side effects like stomach pain, stomach cramps & burning sensation, digestive issues, sudden weight gain or weight loss, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling of nausea, diarrhea, swelling etc. is seen in people.


Several health reports and studies have revealed the potential health risks associated with wrong intake of supplements.


There is evidence on possible harmful effects of consuming vitamins and minerals in excess.

Doses higher than 500 mg/d of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) can cause neurotoxicity.


Doses of 800–1200 mg/d of vitamin E can cause bleeding due to antiplatelet action and doses above 1200 mg/d can result in diarrhea, weakness, blurred vision and gonadal dysfunction.


Doses of fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids more than 2,000 mg/d can worsen anticoagulation.

While it seems harmless to consume vitamin D tablets, excess of which can impair your kidney functioning.


High doses of vitamin D, more than 100 nanograms per milliliter, can increase the calcium absorption and cause muscle pain, mood swings, kidney stones and severe abdominal pain. It also raises the risk of heart attack.

Consuming more than 2,500 mg calcium per day can harden your arteries and pose a life threatening risk to your heart.


Calcium is extremely important for the bones. Lack of it makes the bones brittle and is a problem for older people.


But as much as it is important to maintain your calcium intake, it is also important to make sure that you are not overconsuming it.

Many people assume that having multivitamin tablets fulfills the nutrition requirement of your body.


However, the fact is your body does not only need vitamins to function, there are several other nutrients your body needs to function on a daily basis.


Simply consuming multivitamins and not focusing on a balanced diet will make your body deficient in other important minerals and lack of those nutrients might start damaging your major organs.

Dr Chhajer urges those who consume supplements on a daily basis to take note of the warning signs and immediately stop consuming them.


"Signs one must watch are – rashes and itchy skin, pain in bones and muscles (specially the shin bone), frequent headaches, recurrent vomiting , fatigue, stomach inflammation, bloating, and dehydration," says Dr Chhajer.


Those with comorbidities should be extra careful with these symptoms and should not consume any supplement without consulting a doctor.

The list of complications associated with self-administration of supplements is long. Several studies have linked higher doses of the supplements with life threatening diseases like heart disease, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and mild signs like headaches and abdominal discomforts.


Health experts also advise against consumption of cocktail of supplements. It is medically incorrect to consume certain medicines together which only an expert can help you to understand.


It is therefore crucial to consult a doctor, apprise the expert about existing health conditions and then seek suggestions for a supplement.

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