Vitamins & Supplements Archive

A topical supplement may help your treatment.

Fighting psoriasis, a condition characterized by patches of irritated, flaky skin that usually appear on the elbows and knees and across the trunk, is difficult throughout the year, especially in winter. New research may help explain why. Scientists in Italy found that people with psoriasis also suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

"We speculated that vitamin D might be low in psoriasis patients, but this is the first good study that substantiates it," says Dr. Suzanne Olbricht, an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

Combining over-the-counter (OTC) medications, especially those containing acetaminophen, with prescription drugs can be dangerous.

Older adults who don't get enough vitamin D, either from sun exposure, dietary sources, or supplements, face higher risks of mobility problems.

Taking calcium supplements in an effort to strengthen bones may not be good for the heart. It's best to get calcium from dietary sources such as milk, yogurt, tofu, and spinach.

A detailed look at supplements and their medical use.

Normal doses are okay; megadoses can be dangerous.

Vitamin E is a popular supplement, hyped to improve your health for everything from the brain to the bedroom. However, the science backing up those claims is largely inconclusive. Now, a recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine further suggests that too much vitamin E may even weaken your bones.

Researchers found that rats given megadoses of vitamin E developed bones 20% weaker than those of rats on a normal diet. The amount of vitamin E given the rats was proportionately far in excess of what most human beings consume in their regular diet, or what is in a typical vitamin E supplement. But you should still be careful how much vitamin E you consume, cautions Dr. Bruce Bistrian, chief of clinical nutrition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Vitamin E no help for heart failure.

Q. Should I take fish oil supplements for my heart? I've heard it helps people who have already had heart attacks.

A. More than 50 years ago, scientists observed that people with diets high in omega-3 fatty acids (found primarily in oily fish such as salmon, herring, and mackerel) had low rates of cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 fatty acids include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These substances produce beneficial effects on the blood vessels, triglyceride levels, and blood clotting.

However, research so far has not shown that taking fish oil supplements provides the same benefit as eating fish. For example, three recent trials failed to show that fish oil supplements reduce the risk of death and heart attack in patients with established heart disease. Furthermore, no medical research proves fish oil supplements prevent initial heart attacks in otherwise healthy men.

Expert advice in favor of omega-3 supplementation is mixed.

Despite everything you have heard about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, taking extra omega-3 might not do any good if you already have heart disease.

Contact lenses with vitamin E deliver long-lasting anesthetic.

Lasers have revolutionized the world of eye surgery. Unfortunately, the recovery afterward remains an uncomfortable experience that requires eye drops and sometimes prescription pain medications. The eye drops must be placed in the eye every few hours, and the pain medications come with the risk of overmedication and addiction.