The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in UK, recently said that some vitamin and mineral supplements can be bad if in high doses taken for too long. In most cases one can get all the nutrients one needs from a balanced diet but many people choose to take supplements. But taking some high-dose supplements over a long period of time could be harmful.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in UK, recently said that some vitamin and mineral supplements can be bad if taken in high doses for too long. According to them most supplements are safe but high levels of the supplement chromium picolinate may cause cancer. They identified other common vitamins and minerals whose long-term use could be dangerous. They found that three other common supplements - vitamin C, calcium and iron, may have harmful effects in large doses even over short periods, although the symptoms from these disappear if the supplements are no longer taken. The FSA said that more than 1,000 milligrams (mg) per day of vitamin C, 1,500 mg per day of calcium or 17 mg of iron can cause abdominal pain and diarrhoea in some people, although the symptoms disappear after the supplements are no longer taken. They advised against taking more than 10 mg of vitamin B6 daily unless under medical care. They also said that Beta-carotene, an antioxidant found mainly in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, could cause irreversible harmful effects in smokers if taken for long in high doses. Manganese could be dangerous for older people if given over an extended period of time, the agency said, while nicotinic acid, zinc and phosphorous could also be harmful in high doses over the long term.
The FSA's advice is based on an independent expert review of the scientific evidence on the safety of vitamins and minerals. It is designed to help consumers make informed choices. The FSA reviewed 34 vitamins and minerals with particular emphasis on long-term use. It suggests that 10 mg a day or less of chromium in forms other than chromium picolinate is safe. The agency said it is also consulting on a proposal to ban chromium picolinate, which is sometimes promoted as being helpful in balancing out blood sugar levels, in the manufacture of food supplements.In most cases one can get all the nutrients one needs from a balanced diet but many people choose to take supplements. But taking some high-dose supplements over a long period of time could be harmful. You should be careful while popping in vitamin pills, make sure you consult your doctor before doing so.
The Food Standards Agency, May 2003
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