

Besides warfarin, those include apixaban, dabigatran, heparin, and rivaroxaban. Avoid these supplements if you’re taking a blood-thinning medication. John’s wort amplifies the effect of blood thinners. Among people with heart disease being treated with the blood thinner warfarin, those most likely to experience bleeding events have higher levels of vitamin E in their bodies. John’s wort can have dangerous interactions with blood-thinning drugs used to treat heart disease-increasing your bleeding risk.

Chromium supplements might further damage the kidneys and worsen the disease.īoth vitamin E and the herb St.

Steer clear if you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease. It may be worth a try if you’re deficient in chromium, but that’s very rare. John’s wort, or niacin.Ī chromium deficiency may lead to high blood sugar levels. Talk to your health care provider before you start taking chromium, vitamin E, St. Research on many supplements is inconclusive. While some ingredients could intensify the effects of your diabetes meds, causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar, also called blood glucose), others may have the opposite effect, leading to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Supplements may cause unwelcome-or dangerous-side effects, especially if they interact with your medications. If you’re experiencing symptoms you think a supplement could fix, consult your doctor before trying to remedy the problem yourself. The only way to know whether you’re deficient is through blood work, but you might see some signs. Americans are most commonly deficient in vitamins D and B12, calcium, and iron. If you have a true vitamin deficiency, however, a supplement may be helpful. It’s not clear whether vitamins and minerals have the same effect in the body when taken in supplement form. Eating a well-balanced meal is much healthier than a multivitamin. Think of it like this-whole foods contain a mix of minerals, enzymes, fiber, and other substances that may help your body absorb and use these nutrients. Many think that a supplement contains the same vitamins and minerals as whole foods, so why not just pop a pill? It’s because vitamins and minerals are best absorbed through food.
