The Dangers Of Over-Supplementation

Dietary supplements are herbs, vitamins, minerals, and synthetic elements designed to help the body function. Some even work to improve or enhance specific bodily functions like athletic performance, sleep, or sexual health. Statistics show that almost 90% of Americans take at least 1 supplement. While specific vitamins and minerals are essential to health, the supplement market’s growth has also increased the risk of vitamin overdose. Compounding can help people who take multiple supplements or individuals suffering from the effects of over-supplementation.

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Are vitamin overdoses possible?

Many people are taught the importance of vitamins and minerals for maintaining health from a very young age. However, more is not necessarily merrier. There are dangers with the excessive intake of certain vitamins, known as vitamin overload or overdoses. For instance, fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K can accumulate in the bloodstream and reach toxic levels. Certain minerals like iron can also lead to toxicity in high amounts. Vitamin overload can also prevent the absorption of other essential nutrients, leading to a deficiency. To avoid severe complications from supplements, pharmacists sometimes suggest compounding.

The power of customization

Compounding is the process of creating a custom prescription or supplement to suit the patient’s needs. A compound pharmacy makes the drug using extensive knowledge of all medicines, supplements, and ingredients. Compounding has been around for decades but is less often used nowadays, thanks to the mass production of medication and supplements. However, people are rediscovering compounding and enjoying the long-term benefits of a custom prescription or supplement. Here are some ways compounding helps prevent vitamin overdoses.

Get exactly what you need

After a medical checkup, a doctor may suggest supplementing a particular vitamin or mineral. While over-the-counter (OTC) multivitamins are available, the dose contained can be significantly more or less than what is necessary for optimal health. Some multivitamins contain 200% or more of the daily recommended value. Combined with food that already has these compounds, the patient can easily overdose. When a deficiency is present, the patient may need a specific dose of a particular vitamin or mineral, but traditional OTC supplements may not contain the necessary amount. Compounding creates a custom solution with specific doses, targeting the individual’s exact needs and significantly reducing the chance of overdose.

Avoid side effects and interactions

Overdosing on vitamins can lead to some moderate to severe side effects and consequences. For example, high vitamin A levels are dangerous during pregnancy and can lead to an increased risk of birth defects. High vitamin C levels can cause nausea. Moreover, when combined with the patient’s current prescription medications, some vitamins and minerals can lead to unwanted drug interactions. The compounding pharmacist can use the patient’s medical data and prescription history to construct a specific vitamin. The ingredients will reduce side effects and minimize the risk of drug interactions.

Healthier, safer, and cost-effective

With so many supplements on the market, some can contain potentially dangerous ingredients. Since government agencies do not regulate supplements, some can have abnormally high levels of vitamins and minerals or contain ingredients not listed on the label. Compounding is a healthier, cleaner alternative as the patient knows exactly what is going into the supplement. Furthermore, the patient saves money by getting the best custom solution instead of trying multiple brands and formulas over time.

Compound your vitamins

As a result of the low cost and easy accessibility of vitamins, overdose is possible. Some people may already have vitamin overload and are unaware of the issue. With compounding, a pharmacist can create a unique supplement with enough vitamins and minerals to adequately support daily function. The custom solution allows the patient to receive all the benefits while avoiding the dangers of vitamin overdosing.

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