The harmful effects of supplements that can be sent to the emergency room

For many people, a healthy lifestyle means more than eating a good diet and exercise - vitamins, nutritional supplements and complementary products are also part of the plan. But although there is much publicity about its potential benefits, there is less awareness of their potential adverse effects.

In fact, the use of these products can land in the emergency department.

A study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the adverse effects of the supplements were responsible for an average of about 23,000 emergency department (ED) visits per year. That's a lot of something that is supposed to be good for you.

In this 10-year study, researchers analyzed data from 63 monitoring of hospital emergency departments to estimate the annual number of visits to emergency rooms related to the adverse effects of dietary supplements. The authors define 'food supplements' as herbal products or amino acids and micronutrients complementary or vitamin.  

Patients who visit the ED for symptoms related to supplement use were on average 32 years, and women account for over half of all visits. Just over 10% of these visits resulted in hospital admission, especially in adults over 65 years.

Weight loss products accounted for one quarter of all visits for a single product and women disproportionately affected, while men were more likely to suffer the adverse effects of products advertised for sexual enhancement and bodybuilding. Energy products increased up to another 10% of these visits.

Young adults are not the only ones affected. Many children under 4 years old have suffered allergic reactions or digestive symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) of unsupervised ingestion, accidental vitamins. Patients over 65 were more likely to have difficulty swallowing after taking vitamins or trace large pill.

Although study results are based on visits to emergency rooms annually estimated at a relatively small number of hospitals, reflecting the increased use of food supplements and micronutrients. These products are widely available without a prescription and are advertised as alternatives or supplements to pharmaceutical drugs prescribed in therapeutics. Consequently, dietary supplements or herbal are widely perceived as natural and safe. The latest figures indicate that more than 55,000 of these products available in the United States.

What you need to know before taking a supplement 
Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for the supervision of food supplements, no safety testing or FDA approval required before a new supplement hits the market. In addition, it is not only the potential effects of the requirements of the list of undesirable packing dietary supplements nor are there rules for the maximum size of the pill (a clear risk to the elderly). 

Health care providers may also neglect to ask patients about using over-the-counter or herbal dietary supplements. Without this information, they can not recognize all the signs and symptoms of their patients may experience may be related to these products.

No doubt some dietary supplements can be beneficial. This is because these products contain active ingredients - interacting molecules on receptors in the body and cause physiological changes. However, because they contain active ingredients, they can also cause side effects such as high blood pressure, racing or irregular heartbeat, headache, dizziness, or gastrointestinal symptoms.

What is the safest approach to the use of these supplements? Staying healthy requires a multidimensional approach to self-care. You become aware and informed all supplements, if they are advertised as natural, herbal or no drugs - is part of that care.

If you take vitamins, supplements or herbal products, always read the safety labels included with the package. Ask a pharmacist, your doctor or nurse to check everything you need to make sure that the supplements will not cause damage, either alone or in combination with regularly prescribed or over-the-counter medicines. If you develop symptoms after taking a food supplement, stop and call your doctor.

By: Susan Farrell, MD.