Many people reach for vitamins, omega-3, various health juices and dietary supplements whenever they feel tired. But experts warn that taking multiple products together simply because they are "good for you" can actually burden the liver.
If a person is already taking prescription medication, adding supplement ingredients can cause unexpected side effects, so they should check dosages and overlapping ingredients, the experts advised.
According to the medical community on Monday, Kang Sang-wook, a professor of chemical and energy engineering at Sangmyung University, and Choi Seok-jae, an emergency medicine specialist and professor at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, recently appeared on the YouTube channel "Jisik Hansang" and pointed out that indiscriminate supplement use can lead to liver toxicity.
"Most drugs are metabolized in the liver through an enzyme called cytochrome P450," Professor Choi said. "If you are already taking other medications and then also take supplements, liver toxicity rises."
He was especially wary of the habit of taking several types of supplements together while on prescription medication. "If you are taking medication, two or three supplements may not be a problem, but if you take five or ten, you need to watch for liver toxicity," he said. "If you add juices or boiled herbal water on top of that, it becomes a double or triple burden on the liver."
Taking Multiple Products Because They Are 'Good for You' Risks Liver Dysfunction
When burden accumulates on the liver, jaundice can appear, turning the skin or the whites of the eyes yellow. "In severe cases, jaundice can appear, turning the skin and the whites of the eyes yellow," Professor Choi said. "Even in the emergency room, when a patient comes in with high liver levels, we always check whether they are taking medications and supplements."
In particular, taking several products at the same time raises the possibility of overlapping ingredients. Adding a separate vitamin B complex, a fatigue recovery supplement and an energy drink on top of a multivitamin can lead to unknowingly overdosing on a specific ingredient, he explained.
"If you take several things at once because they are good, the burden on the liver and kidneys does not increase two or three times, but four or eight times," Professor Choi stressed. "It is safer to take only one, as much as needed."
Vitamins A and B3 Require Caution at High Doses; B6 May Cause Numbness in Hands and Feet
Professor Kang said caution is also needed for the habit of taking high-dose supplements over a long period. Some ingredients, such as vitamin A and niacin (vitamin B3), can affect liver function when consumed in excess, he said.
Niacin's side effects can vary depending on its form and dosage. Taking 30 mg or more of a nicotinic acid-form supplement can cause facial flushing and burning, itching and headaches. Nicotinamide can also cause gastrointestinal disorders or a tendency to bleed when taken at high doses for a long time, and at extremely high doses there is also a risk of liver damage.
For vitamin B6, neurological side effects deserve more attention than the liver. Long-term excessive intake can cause numbness in the hands and feet, sensory abnormalities and peripheral neuropathy, so anyone taking several supplements together needs to check their total intake.
"Omega-3 Can Go Rancid Too": Check Manufacturing Date and Storage Condition
Professor Choi pointed out that omega-3, which people take for clot prevention and vascular health, also requires caution depending on storage condition. Because omega-3 is a fat component, it can oxidize when exposed to heat and oxygen, he explained.
"Because omega-3 is a fat component from fish, it goes rancid easily," he said, warning that rancid omega-3 can actually become poison.
"Even though a soft capsule looks perfect, it has micro-holes that allow oxygen to enter, and when exposed to heat, it becomes even easier for it to go rancid," he added. "Even if nitrogen is added during the manufacturing process, some oxygen may remain."
Professor Choi recommended choosing individually packaged products that have been manufactured recently and storing them in a cool environment, away from hot and humid places. If you plan to add a new supplement or take several products together, it is safer to check with a doctor or pharmacist whether the ingredients overlap with the prescription medication you are currently taking.
