Are higher doses of supplements better?
Posted Friday, June 26, 2009
It’s a hotly debated topic. Some doctors promote mega-doses of antioxidants, while others warn against exactly that. But here’s the thing: the potential dangers vary depending on the vitamin or mineral.
While high doses of water-soluble vitamins, like B and C are easily secreted through urine, fat-soluble vitamins, like A, are not. Too much vitamin A can lead to extremely dry, fractured skin and even cataracts. Taking excessive amounts of a supplement doesn’t necessarily enhance its performance, and, in fact, overuse of supplements can lead to kidney and liver damage.
The bottom line: if you’re going to stray from the recommended daily allowances, only do so under a doctor’s or nutritionist’s supervision, so you can be monitored in the event of side effects.
Tags: doctors, dry skin, liver, nutritionist, side effects, supplement, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamins