{"id":400665,"date":"2026-01-31T13:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T13:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/400665\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T13:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T13:38:20","slug":"warning-as-pharmacist-says-brits-could-be-taking-harmful-supplements-daily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/400665\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning as pharmacist says Brits could be taking ‘harmful’ supplements daily"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s what you need to know about the potential side effects of certain supplements\"Woman<\/p>\n

An expert warned of some risks when taking supplements(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

A pharmacist has issued a health warning, claiming you could be \u201cover-stacking\u201d your supplements. You may not realise that certain dietary supplements can\u2019t be taken together or doubled up.<\/p>\n

Many of us are aware that vitamins and minerals are required to help keep the body functioning at its best. While we should be able to get everything we need through a healthy, balanced diet, this isn\u2019t possible for everyone.<\/p>\n

Therefore, taking supplements is a popular way to ensure you\u2019re not missing anything. But you must ensure you follow instructions, either on the bottle or from your GP<\/a>, to take them correctly.<\/p>\n

Hanna Yusuf, prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U<\/a>, warned that you could be leaving yourself vulnerable to side effects and other problems. \u201cThe intention behind supplements is usually good, but the execution often isn\u2019t,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe regularly see people unintentionally doubling up on vitamin D<\/a>, taking high-dose vitamin C powders daily, or supplementing magnesium \u2018just in case\u2019. Some supplements can cause side effects, interact with medicines, or mask underlying issues. If you don\u2019t actually need them, they can be unnecessary at best, and harmful at worst.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cWhen it comes to supplements, simplicity and consistency is usually safer and more effective than stacking multiple products.\u201d Hanna then shared some of the most commonly used supplements, the risks people overlook, and how to take them more safely.<\/p>\n

\"Supplements\"<\/p>\n

You must ensure you follow instructions, either on the bottle or from your GP, to take them correctly(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

Vitamin D<\/p>\n

The NHS<\/a> recommends that Brits take vitamin D from October to March. This supplement can help boost mood, immunity, energy in the darker months<\/p>\n

But Hanna warned of the risks people can miss: \u201cToo much over time can raise calcium levels, which may cause nausea, confusion, kidney strain and (in severe cases) kidney damage. The biggest issue is accidental doubling up via multivitamins and standalone vitamin D and immunity products.\u201d<\/p>\n

She therefore advised you stick to recommended daily guidance for most adults (often 10 micrograms \/ 400 IU in winter) and avoid stacking products containing vitamin D unless advised by a clinician. You should take extra caution if you have kidney disease, sarcoidosis, hyperparathyroidism, or a history of kidney stones.<\/p>\n

Iron<\/p>\n

People take iron for fatigue, low energy, and hair loss. \u201cIron is one of the easiest supplements to take unnecessarily and excess iron can cause stomach pain\/constipation, worsen nausea, and in some cases contribute to iron overload (especially in people with haemochromatosis),\u201d Hanna said. \u201cIt can also interfere with absorption of other medicines, and some medicines can reduce iron absorption.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cDon\u2019t self-prescribe iron for tiredness. Get a blood test first and if advised to take it, follow dosing guidance and timing instructions carefully (some people tolerate alternate-day dosing better than daily).\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Stomach<\/p>\n

High doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhoea and stomach upset(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

Omega-3<\/p>\n

Many people take omega-3 for heart health, inflammation, and brain health. \u201cCan increase bruising\/bleeding tendency in some people (especially at higher doses or alongside blood thinners\/antiplatelets) and can cause reflux burps or stomach upset,\u201d Hanna said. \u201cQuality and dose vary widely between products.\u201d<\/p>\n

She advised: \u201cPrioritise oily fish in the diet where possible; if supplementing, choose a reputable product with clear EPA\/DHA amounts, and speak to a pharmacist or GP if you\u2019re on anticoagulants\/antiplatelets or have surgery planned. \u201c<\/p>\n

Magnesium<\/p>\n

Hanna said: \u201cCan cause diarrhoea and low blood pressure<\/a> at higher doses, plus there\u2019s higher risk in kidney disease (reduced ability to clear magnesium). Some forms are more likely to upset digestion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, she recommended: \u201cFood first (nuts, seeds, leafy greens, wholegrains). If supplementing, start low, avoid stacking with \u2018relaxation\u2019 blends that also include magnesium, and get advice if you have kidney issues. \u201c<\/p>\n

Vitamin C<\/p>\n

People often take vitamin C supplements to boost their immunity. But Hanna said: \u201cHigh doses can cause diarrhoea and stomach upset and in some people it may increase kidney stone risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, it doesn\u2019t cancel out poor sleep, diet or stress. Aim for food sources first (citrus, berries, peppers, broccoli). If supplementing, avoid mega-doses as a daily habit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zinc<\/p>\n

Hanna added: \u201cNausea and stomach pain are common with higher doses; long-term high intake can interfere with copper absorption and contribute to deficiency. Use short-term only if appropriate, don\u2019t stack multiple zinc-containing products, and avoid long-term high-dose use unless advised.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here’s what you need to know about the potential side effects of certain supplements An expert warned of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":400666,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[6612,45739,102,2750,104,6636,56,54,55,6959],"class_list":["post-400665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-blood-pressure","tag-dietary-supplement","tag-health","tag-heart-disease","tag-nhs","tag-nutrition","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-vitamins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=400665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400665\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/400666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=400665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=400665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=400665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}