We asked members of our medical staff to answer some common questions they
hear from their patients. Read
Dr. Mark Hoskinson's answer to: I’ve heard that mega-doses of vitamins, like Vitamin
C, can help prevent diseases. Is that true?
Q: I’ve heard that mega-doses of vitamins, like Vitamin C, can help
prevent diseases. Is that true?
A: Vitamins are complex organic compounds that are needed in small amounts
by the body for normal growth and metabolism. An important part of a balanced diet, vitamins occur naturally in some
foods and may be added to processed foods to increase their nutritional
value. Common vitamin supplements like Vitamins A, C, D, E and many others
are sold as over-the-counter products in many stores. Sometimes vitamins
are packaged as supplements for hair and fingernails, such as Vitamin
B7 or Vitamin H, and it is difficult to tell what they contain and in
what amounts.
A mega-dose of a vitamin is one that is many times higher than the recommended
amount. It is commonly believed that taking mega-doses of certain vitamins
will act like medicine to cure or prevent certain ailments. For instance,
vitamin C is suggested as a cure for the common cold, and vitamin E is
widely promoted as a beneficial antioxidant to help prevent heart disease.
Research has shown that neither of these claims has been shown to be true.
Large-scale studies have consistently shown little benefit in taking mega-doses
of supplements. In fact, there is some evidence that taking high-dose
supplements to prevent or cure major chronic diseases, such as heart disease
and cancer, may be harmful to your health.
The truth is that anything that is consumed in excess can be harmful to
your health. Think about something as simple as water. We all know we
need water to stay alive, but drinking too much water can actually be fatal.
When your healthcare provider asks you what supplements or over-the-counter
medications you’re taking, answer them truthfully. Vitamins and
other supplements can interact with some medications and can even influence
the results of medical tests, leading, in some cases, to potentially incorrect
diagnoses.
Vitamins and minerals are essential to health, but that doesn't mean
mega-doses will keep you out of the hospital or make you live longer.
In most cases, it's preferable to get these nutrients from a balanced
diet. High doses of certain vitamins and minerals may be appropriate for
certain people, though. Talk to your doctor about supplements if you are
a woman of childbearing age, are a vegetarian or vegan, have limited exposure
to the sun, are an athlete in training or suspect for any reason you may
be malnourished.
Mark Hoskinson, MD, practices at Campbell County Medical Group
Internal Medicine in the
Main Clinic. The Internal Medicine Clinc provides adult medical care for patients
with chronic medical conditions, treatment of day-to-day concerns and
preventative checkups in Gillette, Wyoming. To schedule, call 307.688.3636.
Learn more at
www.cchwyo.org/im.