Clipping Board » Dangerous Medicinal Tonics ─ Nutrients should be moderate in the body—excessive supplementation only becomes a burden.
【China Times, Huang Tianru, Chen Minping / Taipei Report】2008.04.24
Dr. Jiang Shoushan, a nephrologist at Shin Kong Hospital, stated that cases of vitamin abuse leading to poisoning are common among Taiwanese. In outpatient clinics, there have been patients who suffered liver damage due to long-term excessive consumption of "Caltrate" and "Centrum."
He mentioned a case of a woman in her sixties who sought medical attention due to abnormal liver function. Blood tests revealed copper poisoning, and if left untreated, it could lead to liver cirrhosis or even central nervous system damage.
Upon further inquiry, the elderly woman admitted to long-term simultaneous use of "Caltrate" and "Centrum" at their recommended dosages. She had not anticipated that overlapping usage would harm her body.
Dr. Jiang also gave another example: while most people know that "Caltrate" contains calcium, they are unaware that it also contains high doses of vitamin D. As a result, some patients who took "Caltrate" alongside multivitamins for an extended period suffered from vitamin D poisoning. If not discontinued in time, this could lead to kidney stones, kidney calcification, or even kidney failure.
Dr. Jiang noted that many pregnant women have the habit of supplementing with multiple vitamins. However, he believes that given the current nutritional status of Taiwanese, pregnant women do not need to deliberately supplement with vitamins. Moreover, the first three months of pregnancy are a critical period for fetal organ development, and the misuse of vitamins could inadvertently harm the fetus.
He emphasized that pregnant women should especially avoid taking vitamin A (such as fish liver oil). Foreign studies have proven that excessive intake of vitamin A during pregnancy may lead to abnormally small heads in fetuses. Research has also found that the size of a newborn's head is related to intellectual development. In other words, high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy could potentially affect the intellectual growth of the fetus.
For individuals with poor kidney function, the basic health education guideline is: "Avoid fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and limit daily vitamin C intake to no more than 100 units." Violating this principle could impose an unbearable burden on patients.
As for vitamin prices, according to data from U.S. websites, they are not necessarily more expensive in Taiwan. For example, Wyeth's "Materna" sold in local pharmacies costs about NT$6.5 to NT$6.9 per pill, while in the U.S., it costs around NT$10.7 per pill.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=4,30& id=1064
Excessive Fish Oil Intake during Pregnancy Affects Fetal Intelligence
Dr. Jiang Shoushan, a nephrologist at Shin Kong Hospital, stated that cases of vitamin abuse leading to poisoning are common among Taiwanese. In outpatient clinics, there have been patients who suffered liver damage due to long-term excessive consumption of "Caltrate" and "Centrum."
He mentioned a case of a woman in her sixties who sought medical attention due to abnormal liver function. Blood tests revealed copper poisoning, and if left untreated, it could lead to liver cirrhosis or even central nervous system damage.
Upon further inquiry, the elderly woman admitted to long-term simultaneous use of "Caltrate" and "Centrum" at their recommended dosages. She had not anticipated that overlapping usage would harm her body.
Dr. Jiang also gave another example: while most people know that "Caltrate" contains calcium, they are unaware that it also contains high doses of vitamin D. As a result, some patients who took "Caltrate" alongside multivitamins for an extended period suffered from vitamin D poisoning. If not discontinued in time, this could lead to kidney stones, kidney calcification, or even kidney failure.
Dr. Jiang noted that many pregnant women have the habit of supplementing with multiple vitamins. However, he believes that given the current nutritional status of Taiwanese, pregnant women do not need to deliberately supplement with vitamins. Moreover, the first three months of pregnancy are a critical period for fetal organ development, and the misuse of vitamins could inadvertently harm the fetus.
He emphasized that pregnant women should especially avoid taking vitamin A (such as fish liver oil). Foreign studies have proven that excessive intake of vitamin A during pregnancy may lead to abnormally small heads in fetuses. Research has also found that the size of a newborn's head is related to intellectual development. In other words, high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy could potentially affect the intellectual growth of the fetus.
For individuals with poor kidney function, the basic health education guideline is: "Avoid fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and limit daily vitamin C intake to no more than 100 units." Violating this principle could impose an unbearable burden on patients.
As for vitamin prices, according to data from U.S. websites, they are not necessarily more expensive in Taiwan. For example, Wyeth's "Materna" sold in local pharmacies costs about NT$6.5 to NT$6.9 per pill, while in the U.S., it costs around NT$10.7 per pill.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=4,30& id=1064