DENVER — There are many types of nutrition supplements available without a prescription these days, but some vitamins can have adverse effects on your health.
Dr. Joseph Vande Griend of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences says that if you have specific nutritional needs, vitamins can help.
“Women who are thinking about having a baby, and some older adults maybe who can’t maintain an adequate diet, those people should be taking vitamins,” Griend said.
Vitamins are also recommended for anyone with a diagnosed vitamin D deficiency.
Fat soluble vitamins can be dangerous because they cling to fat cells rather than leave your body.
“Vitamin A, D, E, & vitamin K are four to remember, those are what we call ADEK. They are fat soluble, and have the potential to build up to toxic levels, although that’s very rare,” Griend said.
Doctors say you should also be careful about taking vitamins that you’re already getting in many of the good foods that you eat. If you take prescription medications you should ask your doctor before even taking a simple multivitamin, because vitamins may also affect your blood pressure.