Q: Which of these medicines are useful and can be taken by a diabetes patient aged 56 years? And also by a transverse myelitis patients aged 32 years. Optisulin (capsule of chromium and zinc fortified); Becozyme C Forte (vitamin B complex and vitamin C tablet + biotin); Metronidazole tablet; Omega B-complex; Ampoxin – 500 mg; Vitamin A & D capsule; Shelcal – 250 mg; Kemfol.

A:Except for Ampoxin and Metronidazole, which are anti-bacterials and indicated only when there is infection, all others are vitamin/mineral supplements. They have no specific role to play either in Diabetes Mellitus or Acute Transverse Myelitis (ATM). Vitamin/mineral supplements are not routinely required since they can lead to side effects. For example unnecessary calcium intake can lead to kidney stones. In other cases such as B-complex factors, the excess amount is cleared via kidney (urine) and reaches the sewerage. The only benefit is to the manufacturer. Such supplements should be taken only when there is documented, proven deficiency of a specific agent. Even in that case only the specific, deficient vitamin or mineral is to be taken and not a polypill.