Let's Talk Supplements
I don’t like excessive nutraceutical (supplement) prescriptions anymore than I like excessive pharmaceutical prescriptions. All too often I see patients taking prescription drugs to treat side effects from other prescriptions. My goal is to prescribe (both supplements and pharmaceuticals) only when absolutely necessary.
First and foremost, I want my patients to get their nutrients from food. If they need a little extra boost, to get all the required nutrition for a small amount of time, I prescribe supplements short-term. Sometimes I also use drugs or supplements to palliate symptoms. For example if my patient is in so much emotional pain that they need a short-term band-aid to help ease through it, while we work on healing the brain pathways at a deeper level. The last thing I want is my patients to be on medicines forever.
Be wary of buying supplements from local stores. Despite the incredible growth of today’s nutraceutical industry, there is little oversight into either manufacturing procedures or quality control. Oftentimes, supplements sold at our local grocery stores not only have contaminants, but don’t even have the same amount of active ingredients from batch to batch. Some manufacturers are so lazy in their production practices, that the variability between batches creates vastly different strengths of their products. One capsule is enough from one bottle, but the next bottle you need 2 caps for the same effect. The only way to overcome this fact, is to purchase supplements from third-party tested manufacturers. When independent third parties test for quality control, the best manufacturers become apparent.
The variability in dosage strength is a major concern of mine. Factors like how old the bottle is, storage conditions (refrigerated or not; direct sun exposure), all need to be taken into consideration. Buy from a reputable source. I ran into this recently with a patient who purchased on Amazon. Not every Seller on Amazon understands the importance of proper storage facilities.
Fish oils are particularly beneficial for brain health. Our brains are mostly fats, and fish oils are one of the most anti-inflammatory fats available. Remember, you are what you eat. Now, fish oils are an exception I have to the rule of getting your nutrition from high-quality foods.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any ocean-dwelling fish that are free from heavy metal contaminants. Mercury is found in all fish. Likewise, there is heavy metal contamination in many soil grown herbs and supplements. The adverse effects of heavy metal contamination have been documented for decades and include both neurotoxicity and cancer. The crazy thing about California is that our cannabis is now tested for heavy metal contamination, but neither our fruits and vegetables, nor our supplements are required by law!
All the fish oils I prescribe to my patients are filtered and free of heavy metal contaminants. This is confirmed by third party testers. I only prescribe the best quality supplements to my patients. It is not worth the $10 savings to purchase a cheaper product that is doing more harm than good. If you can’t afford the extra money, you are better off without it. And if you’re really in a pinch, I can often figure out a way to save you up to 40% on supplement purchases with some of the companies I use.
My final concern for supplements, is their OTC nature. Being OTC, manufacturers are not required to provide patients with leaflets educating them on possible interactions with pharmaceutical drugs. Often the recommended dosages on the back of supplement bottles are less than required for therapeutic benefit. However, manufacturers protect themselves from possible litigation by recommending less. Additionally, genetic medicine is shining a light on the fact that variations in our genes mean that different people need different types of B vitamins. The multi-vitamin you are taking could actually be doing you more harm than good! More about this in a future post.
As a naturopathic doctor, I have undergone extensive training to understand the interactions between drugs, herbs, and supplements. I want things to work synergistically, not antagonistically. Self-treating with OTC supplements is rarely a good idea. It’s best to get advice from your doctor, who is your partner in achieving optimal health.
