Pune: As the human body ages, the need for vitamins and minerals increases. However, many patients tend to self administer these tablets. Nutritionists from the city share the excessive dosage of these can do severe damage to kidney and liver.
A multivitamin is a preparation intended to serve as a dietary supplement - with vitamins, dietary minerals, and other nutritional elements. They are available in the different form such as tablets, capsules, powders or liquids.
Is there a need?
Speaking to Sakal Times, Geeta Dharmatti, nutritionist from the city, said that the body requires these nutritients in a very small amount.
“However, the tablets the patient take may have three to four times the requirement of the human body. Hence there is always a chance of overdose which may affect other vital organs in the body. Liver and kidneys are responsible for removing toxicity from the body. In the case of overdose, they may get severely damaged,” said Dharmatti.
Echoing similar sentiments, Richa Shukla, Senior Executive clinical nutritionist from Jehangir Hospital said that the patients need to take dosage which is prescribed by the doctor only.
“If a person feels weak or fatigued, they search on Internet and start the supplement on their own. It is important to use these supplements, however, self medication can be dangerous. About multivitamins, patients may face upset stomach, headaches or unpleasant taste or smell in the mouth. Also, increased restlessness and irritability may also be seen in patients using such supplements. These are a few side effects,” explained Shukla.
She further added that as a nutritionist she advises her patients to take natural products which have these ingredients in the desired amounts and are safer for consumption.
“One must seek to natural, wholesome foods and not supplements. The simple question is why opt for the supplements, if we have all the foods available? By taking these tablets, we tend to make our body used to them rather than letting our body process these foods to absorb the various nutrients,” argued Shukla.
She further added that many women, after the age of 40 years are afraid of osteoporosis and start taking Calcium tablets without consulting a doctor. Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which the bones become fragile, typically as a result of hormonal changes or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D. “Long term or over dose calcium can cause constipation. Also, it may increase the risk of kidney stones when on supplements. However, if the source of calcium is natural such complications do not arise,” said Shukla.
Healthy diet a key
Shukla added that people do not need the help of these tablets as these essential nutrients are required in small amounts by the body to work efficiently.
“And this can be achieved by being conscious about what we are eating. After a certain age, regular and consistent consumption of dairy products, ragi, nuts like almonds, green leafy veg and soy can help maintained a balanced and healthy diet,” explained Shukla.
