Supplements provide the most benefit to your body when used to fill known nutritional deficiencies. However, a recent poll conducted by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) found that while a whopping 86 percent of Americans take supplements, only 21 percent have confirmed nutritional deficiencies. Most of the time, people take supplements with a broader purpose in mind. For example, boosting energy levels, improving overall health, and fighting the effects of aging. This lack of specific purpose leaves plenty of room for products to emerge that are ineffective, misleading, and even downright harmful.
“The anti-aging supplement market is a key driver of industry growth,” he says. Terry Denoilly, DNP, ACNP, APRN-BC, Chief Medical Officer at EVEXIAS Health Solutions. “Pharmacies, online retailers, social media-only companies, and major industry leaders are responding to this market by suggesting that health and longevity can be improved by taking these supplements. It is important to note that there is no governing body to regulate this, and this lack of regulation has raised serious concerns about the quality and effectiveness of these products.
Having realistic expectations about how supplements can benefit your health and longevity is the first step to protecting yourself from unscrupulous brands. While some supplements may achieve the goals of reducing inflammation, improving appearance, or increasing comfort as you age, there is a possibility that products can rewind the sands of time. It is important to remember that this statement is generally too good to be true.
“As we get older, we also need to be more careful about drug and supplement interactions,” he added. Anna Reisdorf, MS, RD, registered dietitian and founder of The Food Trends. This makes it all the more important to always consult your doctor before adding any new supplements to your lineup, she says. That said, these are the 5 worst anti-aging supplements.
Related: 5 best anti-aging supplements, according to doctors.
Vitamin A and vitamin E, found in skin creams and serums, are often used topically for their anti-aging effects. However, experts say that taking too much of these vitamins in supplement form can cause unexpected side effects.
“Many of the supplements you take for anti-aging are ineffective, but where people really have to be careful is when a supplement becomes toxic to the body,” he says. Sue Decotis, MD, is a weight loss physician based in New York City. For example, antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A and E are highly fat-soluble when consumed in large amounts. They can be harmful because they tend to accumulate in the body. ”
“Vitamin E is essential for health, but high doses of vitamin E supplements can be harmful. Vitamin E can increase your risk of stroke and can interact negatively with certain medications, such as cholesterol medications. There is a gender,” Riesdorf added.
Your body naturally produces dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in your adrenal glands, which produces the male and female sex hormones androgens and estrogens. However, DHEA levels decrease with age.
“DHEA supplements are frequently touted as anti-aging aids because they can replenish age-related declines in hormone levels and may reduce the effects of aging.” Michelle Ruthenstein, RD, CDCES, CDN, preventive cardiovascular dietitian, registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes educator. “However, scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of DHEA as an anti-aging supplement is limited and inconsistent.”
She added that DHEA supplements can also potentially cause harm in the form of liver damage. “It is also recommended not to be used, especially in people with high cholesterol levels or ischemic heart disease, as it can lower HDL cholesterol levels. Cholesterol does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It may be helpful.”
RELATED: 8 best supplements for hair growth, doctors say.
Prevagen is a supplement commonly sold as a memory enhancer. Results are expected to be available within 90 days. However, many experts advise caution, saying the data is unproven.
“Manufacturers have settled several lawsuits related to marketing claims,” they wrote. consumer report. “And in an ongoing government lawsuit, they are accused of making false health claims. Like other supplements like Focus Factor and Nuriva, the makers of Prevagen are testing their effectiveness before putting them on the market. There was no need to prove safety.
Julie NepveuAARP’s senior staff attorney said in an interview with the group that Prevagen’s claims are not only “unsubstantiated and misleading” but also intentionally target vulnerable people.
“Supplement companies are focused on the idea that older people will spend a lot of money on their products because they want to feel better. “We don’t think products should make claims that they have health benefits that they can’t prove,” she said.
Some amino acids have shown promising anti-aging effects in preliminary studies. In particular, taurine, an essential amino acid found in nearly every tissue in the human body, has the potential to extend both lifespan and healthspan, or the number of years lived without disease or disability. Many people are now turning to taurine supplements to reap these benefits.
However, many experts advise against taking single amino acid supplements, which are often touted as having longevity benefits.
“The body needs amino acids, but consuming a single amino acid can disrupt the nitrogen balance in the body and interfere with amino acid absorption and metabolism,” warns Riesdorff.
RELATED: 12 supplements you should never take together, medical experts say.
Stiffness of joints and muscles is one of the hallmarks of aging that most people don’t have to experience. But experts say people should think twice before taking anti-arthritis supplements that claim to turn back the clock.
Horseweed, also known as Bathwort, has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries to relieve symptoms of arthritis. Today, it is often used in the form of dietary supplements or “traditional medicine” used to treat a wide range of rheumatic diseases, including conditions of bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and muscles.
But far from improving or extending lifespan through its anti-aging effects, recent studies have shown that horsetail can cause thousands of genetic mutations in the human body, and that this supplement may be linked to upper urinary tract cancer, bladder cancer, and more. , has been found to be associated with multiple types of cancer, including liver cancer. And the kidneys.
While Best Life provides the latest information from leading experts, new research, and health organizations, our content is not a substitute for professional guidance. Always talk directly to your health care provider about any medications you are taking or any other health questions you may have.
