Abuses of vitamins

How many of us are aware of the fact that excess intake of Vitamins poses immense health risk. City Doctors have sounded a red alert on the enormous use of vitamins. Doctors prescribe them at the slightest pretext. Besides, they are easily accessible across the counters.

Why do I need them?Vitamins are a group of organic compounds needed in minute quantities (less than 1 per cent of our food is composed of vitamins).
Vitamins regulate the body's metabolism, by speeding up chemical reactions, acting as antioxidants or forming an integral part of the structure of proteins, hormones and blood. The body cannot produce them so they must be supplied by food.Vitamins are needed in minute amounts for health, growth and to prevent vitamin-deficiency diseases such as scurvy (lack of vitamin C), beri-beri (vitamin B1), pellagra (vitamin B2) or rickets (vitamin D).

According to a reputed consultant eye specialist based in Jamshedpur, “Ideally, it is best to obtain all your vitamins from food, not pills. Food provides vitamins in the most biologically-available form, in the right amounts and combined with other complementary nutrients. Except under special circumstances, from food there is low risk of overdose.”

He is of the opinion that, there are certain groups who could benefit from a supplement (such as smokers, fussy eaters or the elderly). However he cautions to be wary of the over-enthusiastic promises made by vitamin sellers. Often the scientific evidence is not reliable, consisting of anecdotes from 'satisfied' patients or the people treating them. Not all the claims for supplements have been proven. A recent examination of studies into vitamin C and the common cold showed that it could slightly shorten the duration of colds - but not prevent them entirely. If you do take supplements, think of them only as a ‘top up’ to your daily diet. Supplements aren’t ‘magic bullets’ – they won’t supply everything we get from good food (as many beneficial phyto-chemicals are not found in any pill) nor can they counteract a bad diet with too much fat or salt. Often they leave you with a false sense of security so that you think you don’t need to worry about the junk you’ve eaten.In recent years, however, attitudes to supplements have changed, as numerous studies have emerged suggesting that supplements, especially the antioxidant supplements, are associated with better health outcomes.

Excess doses of vitamins results in the following dangers:

1.Excess vitamin A is toxic and causes loss of appetite, nausea and a dry itchy skin.

2.Excess beta-carotene can turn the skin and whites of the eyes an orange-yellow (which slowly disappears once the excess stops).

3.Excess vitamin D causes calcium to be deposited in soft tissues, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea.

4.Excess niacin causes flushing and interferes with liver function.

5.Overdose of vitamin B6 produces a loss of sensation in the body's extremities (due to damage to the sensory nerves).

Friends, take a deep breath, think twice before hopping to the neighbourhood pharmacy for you miracle pill.