Popular but Dangerous: 3 Vitamins That Can Hurt You

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Magnesium is great to take. Most people are low in magnesium. People who have any form of dementia are 40% in magnesium levels in the brain. Not all magnesiums are equal. Some are from rock and then there are many different forms. Too much magnesium can cause diarrhea. Magnesium is responsible for over 500 functions in your body and you CANNOT get it from food that was grown in magnesium depleted soil.

Dr. Inge Wetzel of MO 10:13PM March 12, 2012

I find it sad that you post incorrect information. The study on vitamin E and prostate cancer is a synthetic vitamin E without Selenium. These doctors gave these men cancer. Vitamin E first of all cannot be absorbed without Selenium, second, synthetic Vitamin E removes natural vitamin E, thus causing prostate cancer.

Dr. Inge Wetzel of MO 10:00PM March 12, 2012

Ideally, natural sources are best for nutrition as well as moderation in the use of vitamin supplements. The evidence presented comes from very reputable sources in health research and evaluated by equally reputable sources. It is a known fact that the use of the popular vitamins A, C and E has proven not to be a preventative for diseases such as cancer or the common cold. Also that, the overuse of those vitamins has resulted to be more harmful than beneficial for many. However, there is no mention of the control groups from which the data was obtained, neither of any benefits other individuals who do not have a diet with enough natural sources of those vitamins may receive; if they were to use them in moderation and ultimately, with their physician’s approval.

TechyBBoomer of NC 9:58PM March 12, 2012

Adds Mullin, “In high-enough doses, vitamin C can cause kidney stones.” Any amount larger than 500 milligrams per day can be enough to cause a problem, he says. That’s only half a 1-gram packet of Emergen-C. “It rarely happens, but there have been case reports.”
..yeah right, check this out:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/f-w99/kidneystones.html

truman of CA 9:13PM March 12, 2012

The reason why Americans spend 28 billion dollars on supplements each year is because the more intelligent ones actually bother to find out how each vitamin works. For example, the only form of Vitamin A supplement which is toxic in excess is the one found in most Multivitamins---Vitamin A from acetate. You would have to take TWO multivitamins at the same time to cause toxicity from A from acetate, and it feels awful if done by accident.
Vitamin A from beta carotene is excreted beyond a useable amount and it is impossible for it to be toxic. This was conveniently ommitted from the article. If one uses a C supplement during a cold, it does in fact shorten the recovery period because ascorbic acid has a stimulatory effect on the function of white cells. By the way, the kidneys readily excrete excess ascorbic acid. The people who ended up with kidney stones must have gone loony with their dosing.
What is also omitted is that the incredibly arrogant physicians who mock the use of supplements seem to think that their advice "Just eat a balanced diet with enough fruits and vegetables and you won't need vitamins..." is advice which is easily followed by their patient. A tremendous number of people have unhealthy diets. Vitamins, rather than being in excess, are providing a patient with a poor diet an easy way to just barely attain the MINIMUM amount of essential vitamins and minerals. In such a case, the supplements could well save his/her life.

Naef Basile of 8:34PM March 12, 2012

50 studies refuting the values of supplements---How many endeorsing the use----more than 50. the use of the words "eat a good diet" is an oxymoron. it is from the days before chemicals in all foods---some very bad for the human body as originall designed to function.
I am 74 and ahve taken e and c since the 70's and am is reasonalbly good health--I now take D3-because it is endorsed by the Canadian Cancer society, based on studies from Europe

Terry Brenan 8:15PM March 12, 2012

It seems to me that the real issue is acadamia. Here we have internationally a glut of so called PhD's and other "specialists", Ma's., Doctorate's etc who end up countering each others claim's/studies. Why are vitamins/supplements a billion dollar industry? Why is the trust dubious with our FDA? Who is the "expert"? The amount of education a Doctor recieves in nutrition is minute hence forcing the emergence of another entire career field of Nutritionist's who in turn are forced to remain under the medical umbrella. Then we have Pharmaceutical conglomerates who seem to have the Doctors total attention. This is not a theory or conspiracy, it is out right shamefull. A trillion dollar industry jealous of a billion dollar industry. The FDA is clearly on the side of bigger money without proof of the truth of either side. A cell does NOT thrive on unnatural element/s. It thrives on nutrition, plain and simple.

Rob Angle of WA 5:04PM March 12, 2012

3 vitamins that can hurt you? Give me a break it's been at least 27 years since the last death from a nutritional supplement. What a poorly written poorly researched article. For every 1 study sited you have to look past the other 100 that say the complete opposite. Nothing more than careful wording and a case of selective blindness.

Josh of MN 4:10PM March 12, 2012

Thank you for all this information first time reader.

Becky of OR 3:49PM March 12, 2012

if what you say is no good today then tommorrow its good for you, the next it's killing you.WHAT ARE WE to believe it seams that you say anything you feal like at the moment.You know yous are driving us insane.

daniel mastropieri of PA 2:35PM March 12, 2012