Though they can of course be helpful, it’s so important you know your stuff before getting started.
For instance, taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can lead to too much calcium to build up in the body, also known as hypercalcaemia – this can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.
In the mean time, one woman from American even found herself ‘one step from liver failure’ after she accidentally overdosed on turmeric pills.
The latest warning, however, is for soft-gel capsule supplements – you know, the squishier tablets.
The supplement is essentially inside a soft shell, which is usually made of a combination of gelatin, water, opacifier and a plasticiser such as glycerin or sorbitol.
Though they are easier to swallow, they have come under scrutiny from health experts and researches for one reason – the plasticiser element.
Plasticisers are made of phthalates, which are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and durable.
However phthalates have reportedly been linked to a number of health concerns, including birth defects, allergies in children and even ‘silent killer’ heart disease, reports the Independent.
The publication outlines that phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors – these are substances that can interfere with hormone systems.
And some more scientific studies, mainly in animals, have suggested they can affect reproductive development, fertility and hormone balance.
Still, health experts and scientists are still trying to fully understand the risk, which is a difficult job as there are so many different kinds of phthalates.
It’s also crucial to note that of course, phthalates in medicines are regulated and health providers have set guidelines for the use of phthalates in medicines, including limits.
But, as so many supplements are sold over the counter and taken without medical supervision, it’s easier to unknowingly exceed safe phthalate levels.
Cardiologist at Mount Sinai Dr Evan Levine told the Daily Mail: “Phthalates [can] increase inflammation and an important risk for heart disease.”
