Let’s talk about supplements

Every now and then, a woman must exercise her prerogative. Although I have written about this subject before, cases present themselves during practice that must be addressed. I present to you again the subject of supplements.  I see patients every day, and one of the questions I ask, especially when the patient is new to me, is whether he/she is taking any supplements. I pose this question in various ways.  Are you taking anything other than your medications? Are you taking any vitamins or minerals? Are you taking any over-the-counter medications? Are you taking any supplements? 

Some patients are honest and tell me what they are taking, or even better, bring in the supplement so I can identify it. Meanwhile, other patients are not honest and do not admit they are ingesting an over-the-counter supplement.

It is essential that your healthcare provider is aware of all medications you are taking, so that all possible attempts can be made to prevent interactions with your over-the-counter medications and prescribed medications.

If you are taking over-the-counter medications, be sure to inform your healthcare provider and check for potential interactions. I ask that you also seriously think about why you are taking that over-the-counter medication, vitamins, or supplements, and what you expect it to do for you. It is essential that your individual health be considered, rather than taking something simply because someone else is taking this product. Not all supplements are for all bodies. If you have issues with your kidneys, liver, or heart, exercise caution. If you have a problem with your immune system and have difficulty fighting off infections, be careful. If it is a child, be doubly careful of overdosage.

Conduct thorough research on reputable websites. Do not be fooled by the advertising attached to a product. Many people and their money have been separated by this. Again, not all websites are reputable and unbiased. Consider conducting your medical research on reputable websites such as UpToDate and Medscape. These are sites you can rely on to provide the truth.

Be cautious when purchasing vitamins and supplements.  Many studies have shown that when properly analyzed, many products contain very little to none of the ingredients they claim to have.

The quality of the product is extremely important; therefore, opt for reputable companies.

So, what brings on this rant?  A recent patient had problems with bleeding due to a supplement they were taking. They did not initially disclose that they were taking the supplement because they did not think it was important. They were unaware that this was a side effect of the product, especially when taking mega doses of it. This could have been a catastrophe. This raises another concern: people taking too much of a product. They believe that if something is good, then more is better, and that does not apply here.

Supplements may be helpful, but a better approach would be to improve the diet to include four to five fruits, four to five vegetables, adequate amounts of protein, and reduced amounts of sugars and sweets.  A proper diet will alleviate the need for most supplements, vitamins, or over-the-counter medications.

Ok, I got this off my chest.  I guess I feel better.

Dr. Veita Bland is a board-certified Greensboro physician and hypertension specialist. Dr. Bland’s radio show, “It’s a Matter of Your Health,” can be heard live on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. on N.C. A&T State University’s WNAA, 90.1 FM. Listeners may call in and ask questions. The show is replayed on Sirius 142 at 5 p.m. on Wed. Email Dr. Bland at ideas@blandclinicpa.com.