Dietary Supplements Can Damage the Liver

An increasing number of people are using products to enhance their diets. A recent estimate indicates, “Americans are spending some $6 billion annually on nutritional supplements, and the market is growing by 20% every year” (Zahn, 1997). Of these supplements, the increase in herbal remedy use is most dramatic. Zahn holds that the increase can be attributed to the widely held belief that herbal substances are healthy and harmless because of their natural origins (1997). Unfortunately, research on these supplements, herbal or otherwise, has not transmitted to the public as quickly as the diet enhancers themselves. The phenomenon leaves many consumers misguided by skewed advertising and

This is particularly true for orally administered AS. The parentally administered AS seem to have less serous effects on the liver. Testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate and other inject able anabolic steroids seem to have little adverse effects on the liver. However, lesions of the liver have been reported after neither parental nor testosterone administration, and also occasionally after injection of testorone esters.Painkillers (codeine and morphine based tablets): It has been shown that regular use of pain relievers may have an increased risk of high blood pressure. There are health implications because blood pressure has significant issues for men and women if uncontrolled. Even when diagnosed, it has been shown that high blood pressure has an adverse effect on mortality and morbidity. Cough Linctus (Gee’s Linctus, collis Brown Mixture): These medicines contain opium tincture and have a suppressant effect on the respiratory system. They slow metabolism and heart rate, decrease pupil size, dry mouth. Alcohol: Alcohol is a legal substance used by many, clear and undisputed evidence that it impairs the user. The excessive use of alcohol dehydrates the brain and the body. It causes sclerosis of the liver, slurring of speech, tendency of violent behaviour. Illegal drugs

Throughout the years we have been prescribed with regular medications for whatever illness we have and also in using supplements for our weight loss program. We at times neglect or willfully forget the side effects and risks we are faced off with regular medications. This is the reason why a lot of herbal supplement companies are increasing in popularity because of the supplements they are recommending in exchange of the regular medications. There are more and more people being aware of these supplements performance. They prevent the onset of a possible health problem and also increase performance with considering very little complications or side effects.

Dietary supplements are becoming more and more widely used. Whether it be for sport performance, herbal, or just a vitamin, many are being used and misused. People do not understand how dietary supplements are regulated and what the pros and cons are.

Due to there being countless supplements to choose from, sundries of individuals trust health professionals for primary nutritional advice. Furthermore, there are many who are in quest of improved holistic health alternatives to remain renewed, and uphold their health.

Advice to a patient about dietary supplements, generally speaking, would be try and get the nutrients you need by a healthy and balanced diet. An example would be, instead of taking a magnesium supplement one could include or increase the amount of dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and beans as these foods are high in magnesium. The best source of a vitamin or mineral is ingesting it in its most natural, most raw form and letting our bodies break it down and use it as it was meant by nature.

According to the 2002 Harris poll, seven out of ten adults in the United States take vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other supplements (Schardt 2). Due to media advertising, dietary supplements are becoming more popular. Companies compete to have the best supplements. It is said that forty percent of American adults take vitamin supplements and over the counter products, which total in several billion dollars (Farley 2). Although many of the supplements claim to be healthy and help lose weight, the dangers are endless. Dietary supplements can be illegally spiked and are not safe. Therefore, putting regulations on dietary supplements and their safety hazards is necessary.

The body is harmed to extremes by taking any type of steroid, the first problem that it causes is blood problems. The issues that may occur are coronary heart disease, obstructed blood vessel, and the in severe cases is stroke. The heart is also significantly affected by increased cholesterol and increased blood pressure while consuming steroids. The use of steroids also may create tumors in the body. The liver is also affect seriously through issues impairing of liver function, steroids may cause peliosis hepatitis which is a disease that creates blood-filled cysts that may rupture in the liver and cause immediate liver failure. The immune system may be affected when sharing needles, diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV may be obtained if needle is not sterilized (Department of Health). A study conducted revealed that eighty percent of steroid users have experienced biochemical abnormalities in liver testing (Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Fast

Supplements are intended to help out an athlete in areas where there may exist a deficiency. This could be a lack of protein, creatine or even testosterone. And because of this any substance taken to correct a deficiency could be considered a ‘supplement’ to the athlete’s diet – even the multi-vitamin he takes with breakfast.

Many studies have been conducted over the past few decades and have shown the harmful effects that steroids can have on an athlete’s body. In the article “Steroids in Combat Sports: Adverse effects on Health” written by Malik and Trainor they list some of the damaging effects it can have such as: “stoppage of bone growth resulting in growth retardation which is irreversible, increase risk of muscle injury, bone destruction, heart disease…” (Malik, Trainor, and pg.1) the list goes on to include diseases such as cancer, and even death.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 is an act put into place by the federal legislation to make sure that dietary supplements are regulated effectively to create optimal health for the United States population. The FDA is responsible for the safety of herbal products. The FDA is also responsible for taking action against any altered or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. The FDA encourages consumers and members of dietary industries to report any adverse reactions or side effects. The FDA has a Safety Reporting Portal which is a safe way online to report when a consumer, health professionals or industry member find a problem or any adverse reactions from the dietary supplement. The FDA’s role in herbal product regulation is to make sure dietary supplements are manufactured safely and labeled correctly, if a problem is to occur the FDA is responsible for taking action against the

Drug induced liver injury is responsible for 5% of all hospital admissions and 50% of all acute liver failures. More than 75 percent of cases of idiosyncratic drug reactions result in liver transplantation or death.[30] This health problem is expected to increase as the number of drugs being consumed increases, both prescription and non-prescription, as well as due to the current trend of usage of pharmacologically active substances in complementary and alternative medicine Drug induced hepatotoxicity is the most common reason cited for withdrawal of already approved drugs from the market. It also accounts for more than 50 percent of cases of acute liver failure in the United States. The exact incidence of drug induced liver injury is difficult

Ironically, the ingredient in Kava that is responsible for the desirable effects is the same ingredient that is thought to cause liver toxicity (Ernst). That ingredient, being Kavalactones (Ernst). In 2000, thirty cases of hepatoxicity associated with Kava had been reported in Europe (Richardson). And, a great portion of these thirty cases were very severe, many of which requiring liver transplants (Richardson). However, in my opinion, there is great error within this study. I believe the study was rather uncontrolled. Kava users around Europe were evaluated within a span of one year. The studies evaluated within this analysis resulted in the recordings of thirty kava users who were simultaneously suffering from liver toxicity. There was no history on any of these people, and there was no report of how many Kava drinkers were evaluated. With no history on the subjects of the study, there is no saying that these individuals did not already have damage to their liver prior to their consumption of Kava. The results received from this study, led scientists and doctors to report Kava as a dangerous herbal drug, leading Europe to ban Kava

As prescription drug is becoming more and more common and widespread among the American society, it is obvious that drugs should have high quality in order to protect the consumers from any substantial danger that the drug could pose. Not just prescription drugs but dietary supplements as well. There has been an 80 percent increase in dietary supplement consumptions. But sadly the The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (1994) has helped manufacturers from facing FDA regulations. Furthermore, dietary supplements are being labeled as food and I don’t believe that they should be because people are less educated when it comes to medication and drugs, so if they happen to take in contaminated drugs, they would not know how to deal with

Even as we try to improve our intake, we fall behind because of our ignorance of what is truly inside. We do have cures, to many of our deadliest illness out there. If you travel to the European countries, you could see the different in their medical practices and the statistics of human life in general. They usually out live the common, healthy, man by 20+ years. There is a saying, “you are, what you eat.” By that note, we should all read a little more about all factors of alternative health. The easiest would be to start with Vitamins and learn what are the signs of deficiency. Some are fairly easy to spot and see, as in the disease “Pica”. The person is lacking Iron, and has strange desires and cravings. Often times its items not really considered healthy or beneficial to eat, such as dirt or ashes. Weak brittle bones are often the signs of lack of Vitamin D. Until there are more people that believe that this is true, the more acceptance the Homeopathic, Herbal, Acupuncture audience will receive more credit and maybe possibly become greater than the Pharmaceutical companies. Source Citation Rath, Matthias, and Aleksandra Niedzwiecki. "Alternative Nutritional AIDS Treatments Are Safe and Effective." AIDS, edited by