Worried That Consumption Of Supplements Can Hazard Heart Organs? Doctors Share Tips

Illustration (DO TERRA International, LLC/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Thinking of adding supplements to your health routine but worrying about liver damage? Be careful that taking supplements carelessly can endanger your organs. But the good news is that you can still enjoy the benefits safely.

Dr. Karan Rajan, a leading surgeon in England, reported the Medical Daily, Wednesday, September 24, warning that all kinds of supplements, even natural ones, could affect liver function, explains Dr. Rajan in an Instagram video that has been viewed by more than 1.7 million people.

Dr. Rajan admits that he is a big fan of supplements and even takes some supplements, including omega-3, vitamin D, and fiber. However, responding to a video of a woman experiencing organ failure after taking supplements for hair and nail growth, he gave a firm warning: "Don't make your heart a failed science project."

"If you take supplements and want to avoid liver damage, there are several things you need to know," he added.

Before taking any supplements, Dr. Rajan suggested checking trusted sources such as LiverTox a database that collects case reports on how various drugs and supplements affect the liver.

"If registered in grades A, B, or C, be careful with doses and what you consume. Even natural supplements also involve liver metabolism, meaning that these supplements go through the biochemical screening process of the liver and are processed by liver enzymes. This can affect how hard you are at work," he said in the video.

With such easily accessible supplements, you are easily lulled by attractive marketing without knowing what you actually got. That's why Dr. Rajan recommends looking for third-party certification labels on the packaging, which suggests that the product has been tested independently for its safety, quality and performance. While no test can guarantee 100 percent protection from liver damage, at least the test can help you find out what the contents of the capsule really are.

Regarding the supplement dose, Dr. Rajan emphasized that more are not always better, so it is very important to comply with clinically recommended doses.

"If you are taking prescription drugs such as statins, blood dilution, antiepilepsy, and antidepressants, check drug interactions with your pharmacist or doctor before taking any supplements," he said.

"If you take some herbal supplements, make sure there is no significant overlap between the active ingredients of each supplement. You create a pharmacological mixture with unknown synergy," he added.