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How can excessive use of dietary supplements cause nutritional disease?
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nutritional disease
Children with rickets. The disease, which most commonly strikes children, causes bone deformities such as bowlegs. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D or calcium.
Excessive use of dietary supplements can lead to nutritional disease by causing nutrient toxicities, as the body’s ability to process and excrete certain substances is often limited. While obtaining nutrients from food is generally safe, supplements provide concentrated doses that can easily exceed recommended intake levels.12
Mechanisms of Toxicity
- Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin D are stored in the liver and fatty tissue. Because they are not readily excreted, they accumulate to toxic levels, potentially causing organ damage, bone density loss, or developmental abnormalities.13
- Water-Soluble Vitamins: Although typically excreted in urine, high-dose supplements of vitamins like niacin or vitamin B6 can cause adverse effects, including sensory neuropathy or liver toxicity.1
- Mineral Imbalances: Excessive mineral intake can interfere with the absorption of other essential nutrients. For example, high zinc intake may impair copper utilization, while high selenium levels can lead to selenosis, characterized by nervous system disturbances and hair loss.2
It is ethically imperative to prioritize safety by adhering to recommended intake levels, as the misuse of supplements can transform beneficial nutrients into harmful agents that cause serious, preventable illness.12