We’re a nation of pill poppers, so it’s no wonder vitamins and supplements have become a $50 billion a year industry.
An estimated 70 percent of Americans take some form of supplement every day.
But doctors warn that a huge number of products are not only wrong, but can do more harm than good.
A new study suggests that taking nicotinamide riboside (NR), a type of vitamin B3, may increase your risk of developing aggressive cancer.
The 70-cent tablet is touted for its anti-aging properties and has become a hit among wellness influencers in recent years.
The study, led by Elena Gown, a chemistry professor at the University of Missouri, found that the popular supplement may help spread cancer.
NR has been shown to support cell proliferation. When Professor Gown gave it to cancer cells in his lab, he found that the cancer cells were able to use it as a powerful fuel to spread throughout the body.
This increases the risk of people developing hard-to-treat breast cancer, and may also increase the risk of the disease spreading to the brain and other parts of the body, the study said.
However, the study authors cautioned that finding this association does not mean for sure that these supplements cause cancer. For example, a supplement may need to be taken in large amounts for it to have a significant effect on the body.
Professor Goun said the study reveals how unregulated the supplement industry is and how little we know about the long-term effects of many supplements.
“Some people take it.” [vitamins and supplements] “This is because we automatically assume that vitamins and supplements only have positive health effects, and we know very little about how they actually work,” she says.
This isn’t the only supplement that has led to unfortunate results.
Some supplements claim to support sexual health
A study of 450,000 Americans by researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that multivitamins had no effect on reducing the risk of heart disease or cancer.
“Most supplements do not prevent chronic disease or death, their use is unjustified, and they should be avoided,” the study authors wrote.
According to the Mayo Clinic, excessive intake of vitamin E is associated with earlier overall death and prostate cancer.
Research also suggests that beta-carotene, a supplement found naturally in vegetables, may increase your risk of developing lung cancer if you were a former smoker.
However, both of these studies note that this link has not been conclusively proven and that if you are currently taking these supplements, you are probably not at immediate risk.
Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Cohen, an internist at Harvard Medical School, told Discover that supplements for sexual performance, weight loss, sports performance, and cognitive enhancement are typically the most problematic category.
“These health claims don’t need to be backed up by evidence from human clinical trials. In other words, things like this can affect your cognitive performance, even if no studies have shown that the supplement actually helps it.” “You can say it’s going to improve your memory, it’s going to improve your memory,” he said.
For example, Gwenyth Patrow’s company Goop makes a product called “Brain Boost Daily Chews,” which are said to “support energy and focus.” Cohen said there is no scientific basis for such products.
Cohen further explains that supplements that fall into these categories most likely contain harmful substances, experimental drugs, or far fewer or more ingredients than they should. did.
Cohen, who is part of a laboratory that tests the authenticity of supplements, said his company found incredibly high levels of CBD in a study of sleep gummy brands.
Other studies have found that supplements are often contaminated with carcinogenic heavy metals.
Another study found that all 138 supplements tested contained foreign bacteria.
This can occur because supplements fall into a no-man’s land between medicine and food, meaning they are not regulated by the FDA.
Diet supplements are often misleading, says Dr. Cohen
Therefore, the only way to know if a product actually contains what it says on the label is if the company chooses to have it tested by a third party.
Some third-party testing companies, such as U.S. Pharmacopeia, put a stamp on the bottle label so you can verify it. If you see a gold and green stamp on the bottle that says USP, it means it’s verified.
“If it’s also third-party certified, that’s the most likely way to get what you think is in the bottle,” Cohen said.
In one of Cohen’s tests, he found that one brand of sleep vitamin contained 346% more melatonin than stated on the label. Overdosing on supplements is rarely fatal, but can cause tremors, nausea, confusion, drowsiness, and anxiety.
“Sometimes you’re really curious about what’s in the bottle,” Cohen said.
Another problem with supplements is that your body may not need more of a particular nutrient. For example, taking too much vitamin A can cause headaches, dizziness, and hair loss.
One of the other areas of ambiguity you may come across regarding supplements is how they interact with other medications you may be taking.
St. John’s wort interacts with all types of drugs designed to minimize cholesterol.
For example, St. John’s wort has been shown to block or minimize the effects of statins, a type of cholesterol-lowering drug.
Additionally, NR supplements have been shown to lower blood pressure, so taking supplements on top of that for people taking blood pressure medication could be in dangerous territory.
Another popular herbal supplement called ashwagandha can alter the effects of diabetes medications and put diabetics into dangerous hypoglycemic territory.
If you talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement, you can probably avoid harmful effects, write Dr. Eve Glazier and Dr. Elizabeth Coe of UCLA.
“It’s always wise to talk to your doctor if you want to start taking supplements.”
What’s more, most people don’t need to take supplements at all, Cohen says. The best way to get your daily nutrients is by eating a balanced diet, registered dietitian Michelle Ruthenstein previously told the Daily Mail.
