Minerals and vitamins are essential for life, but taking supplements is not always good for health, said Dr. Jarosław Woroń from the Jagiellonian University during a conference held on Wednesday in Warsaw.
The organizer of the conference Safety of minerals and vitamins use as part of the nationwide Drug Safe campaign was the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products.
The name vitamin comes from the Latin words vita (life) and amine (a chemical compound containing an amino group – not all vitamins have such a group) – recalled the spokesman of the office, Dr. Wojciech Łuszczyna. The name and discoverer of the first vitamin (B1-thiamine) was a Pole, Kazimierz Funk, and the method of vitamin C synthesis was developed by a medical Nobel Prize winner from Poland, Tadeusz Reichstein. Vitamins are organic chemical compounds necessary for the proper functioning of the living organism. They must be supplied with food – the body cannot produce them.
The proper functioning of the body also requires the supply of numerous elements – there are few that do not have any useful function (e.g. mercury). There are frequent deficiencies of calcium, magnesium and potassium. According to a British dietary study, the consumption of vitamin A, copper, zinc and iodine has fallen in the last 15 years, but it has increased – vitamins C and B6, and calcium and potassium.
Even if we lack certain vitamins or minerals, this is not a reason to take multivitamin supplements, argued Dr. Jarosław Woroń from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology. Vitamin and mineral preparations should be used only when indicated, never in reserve or chronically. For example, high doses of vitamin B6 can be physically addictive.
The preparation should be individually selected for the patient’s needs, be used in recommended doses, and in the event of undesirable symptoms, its use must be discontinued.
The multivitamin supplements are most often used by young people – up to 24 years of age, and patients over 65 years of age. Interactions with other concomitant medications may be particularly dangerous in the elderly.
The reasons for the increased need for vitamins and minerals may be slimming diets, monotonous nutrition, inappropriate preparation of meals (even too high temperature), stimulants. Also, chronic diseases, medications taken, pregnancy, periods of intensive growth or old age require an increased dose of vitamins and minerals.
Contrary to appearances, an excess of vitamins and minerals can be harmful. While vitamins B1, B2 or B12 cannot be overdosed, vitamin C, folic acid, magnesium or potassium in excess already harm. Even more dangerous is the excess of vitamin A, E, beta carotene, calcium, copper and fluoride.
Synthetic vitamins are much worse absorbed than natural ones, their excess burdens the kidneys and liver, and changes the water and electrolyte balance. The easiest way is to overdose the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Excess vitamin A can cause baldness, hemorrhages and even fetal damage, vitamin D – damages the kidneys, heart and lungs, and K – increases the risk of blood clots.
Vitamin and mineral preparations prescribed by a doctor may be very necessary for pregnant women – the need for vitamins increases then by 30%, and for some minerals – even twice. Folic acid prevents neural tube defects. Taking laxatives, antiemetic, analgesic or sedative drugs during pregnancy may affect the vitamin and mineral metabolism.
The cause of vitamin and mineral deficiencies are many medications – for example painkillers (vitamin C, iron), antibiotics (vitamin C, biotin), psychotropic drugs (vitamin B2). Oral contraceptives can reduce levels of magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, and B6. Orlistat slimming reduces the level of unsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins (PAP).