What is the debate?In an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that relying on vitamins and supplements for nutritional balance may do more harm than good by giving people the false impression that a healthy diet isn’t needed. ‘‘People think even if you don’t eat properly, supplements will do the job,’’ said Dr Anoop Misra, Professor of Medicine at AIIMS. Is that the only risk?The problem is not as simple in certain areas. Recent studies have shown that many supplements have a tendency to increase the risk of diseases over the years. ‘‘When vitamins are taken without mixing it with any other supplement, they are not harmful and might even be needed in some cases. But studies have shown that the risk of diseases increase with the consumption of nutritional supplements,’’ said Dr Misra.An overdose of various supplements could result in:• Beta carotene supplements increase the risk of lung cancer• Vitamin E increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases; mostly in smokers• High doses of vitamin A can cause osteoporosis and foetal malformation• Vitamin C can lead to stomach pain, diarrohea and gasApart from what your body needs, the supplements also contain harmful substances. And even while some supplements such as calcium and vitamin D are helpful for maintaining bone health, mixing these with massive amounts of other supplements can cancel out the benefits:• Calcium inhibits heme and non-heme iron absorption• Iron inhibits zinc absorption• Zinc inhibits copper absorption• Vitamin E negates vitamin K action Are supplements very harmful?Not always, say the experts. Some people need supplements. ‘‘Certain supplements are essential and more so in the Indian context,’’ says Dr Misra.• Patients with existing coronary heart disease may benefit from omega-3 fatty acid supplements• Vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D are useful for the elderly• Fluoride supplements are important for children who do not have access to a reliable source of fluoride• Folic acid is important during pregnancy and it decreases the risk of heart attacks by decreasing plasma homocysteine levels• B12 can also help in case of deficiency in vegetarians• Calcium supplements are necessary for middle-aged women• In children, zinc will prevent many infections (long term dosage has to be in consultation with the doctor)
