Part 3 of 7 - Is Vitamin Supplementation Ok if I'm on Medication?

December 11, 2019 by The Complete Nutra Team

VITAMINS AND MEDICATIONS

Vitamins are an important nutritional resource, andfor this reason doctors may prescribe certain vitamins specific to one’s ownneeds. One example of this would be the prescription of folic acid and otherprenatal vitamins to pregnant and nursing mothers. In addition to this, thereare some medications prescribed for certain ailments that actually deplete thelevels of vitamins in the body. Doctors will prescribe vitamins in conjunctionwith some medications, but some vitamins actually counteract the affects ofmedications. That's why it is important to avoid some vitamins when takingcertain medicines. Ask a doctor about your vitamin intake when being given anew prescription.

Possible Interactions with Medications

When taking some medications, certain vitaminsshould be avoided. Some medications used for treatment of acne and skinproblems can interact poorly with Vitamin A. These medications increase therisk of Vitamin A toxicity and for that reason, the vitamin should not betaken. Vitamin B-6 should be avoidedwhen taking prescription Levodopa. However, when Levodopa is taken inconjunction with Carbidopa, the concern of vitamin B-6 interactions iseliminated. For this reason, most doctors now prescribe both medicationstogether.

Warfarin is a medication that is known to havenegative side effects when taken simultaneously with vitamin E. Some studieshave shown that some people taking both Warfarin and vitamin E have anincreased risk of internal bleeding which can lead to serious healthcomplications. Warfarin should also not be taken with Vitamin K, as the vitaminK can decrease the effectiveness of the Warfarin.

Phenytoin is a medication known to interact withfolic acid. This is not a common problem, because most over-the-counter folicacid pills are not given in high enough doses to interact with Phenytoin. It isstill important, however to check with your doctor when being prescribedPhenytoin before you takefolic acid. Because senior citizens generally take multiple medications, it is alwaysvery important to consult a doctor about what medications are safe to take.

Vitamins That Boost The effects Of Medications

Some medications have been found to be moreeffective when given in conjunction with certain vitamins. One example of this is Vitamin D. Medicationsthat are prescribed to help with bone health are actually given a boost inefficiency by Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also shown to help with medications thathelp fight osteoporosis. Some studies show that vitamin D along with magnesiumhelps with the development of bone in teenage girls.

The B complex vitamins have been shown to boost theaffects of medications that help with brain development and muscle and bodydevelopment. Vitamin E is used in conjunction with immune system boostingmedications, especially in the elderly.

HEALTH BENEFITS TO SENIOR CITIZENS

Seniors have specific needs in order to stayhealthy. As people get older, theygenerally develop greater health needs, have a less efficient immune system,and become more fragile in structure. Due to their specialized needs, it isespecially important for senior citizens to maintain an adequate supply ofvitamins in their diets.

Calcium and Bone Density

Calcium is a very important part of nutrition,especially in senior citizens. When a person reaches the age of seventy, theirbones can become quite brittle. To help combat this, calcium supplements can betaken. Few people realize that an adequate amount of calcium is not in the dietof the average person. In the humanbody, two percent of the body’s weight is actually made up of calcium, almostall of which is found in the teeth and bones.

A calcium supplement should be a part of the dailyroutine for the elderly, especially with women who are prone to osteoporosis, aword which literally translates to “porous bones”. Each year, about twenty percent of the body’scalcium is destroyed and replenished through food and supplements. A personstands to lose a good deal of their bone health pretty quickly if they are notsufficiently taking in the calcium they need regularly.

While calcium is necessary and should not beignored, it is not a good idea to take more of it than recommended. Anythingabove the required amount of calcium has no additional benefits to the body.When the recommended amount has doubled it actually can have side effects andcan cause sickness.

Benefits Of Fiber

Fiber is a form of carbohydrates that are notbroken down and digested by the body. Instead, fiber is excreted from the bodyin the feces. There are two different types of fiber, called soluble andinsoluble. When mixed with liquid, soluble fiber forms a gel like substance,and binds with fatty acids. Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol, reducing the riskof heart disease. It also helps to regulate blood sugar in individuals withdiabetes. Insoluble fiber passes directly through the intestines and helpsbalance the pH levels of the intestines, which helps prevent colon cancer.Insoluble fiber promotes regular bowel movements and prevents constipation, andremoves toxic waste from the colon in less time.

Fiber intake is usually broken down intoseventy-five percent insoluble fiber and twenty-five percent soluble fiber. Itis recommended that the average person gets twenty-five grams of fiber eachday. Fiber can be acquired by eating oats, bran, nuts, seeds, barley, and somevegetables. It’s important to make sure your diet contains enough fiber to keepyour body working the way it should. Because the elderly often do not get enough fiber in their diet however,it is a good idea to take a fiber supplement. Fiber supplements come in bothpill form and powder form, which is dissolved into a liquid.

Supplements To Boost Memory

Over time, pollutants can build up in the brain andimpair memory function. These pollutants can come from habits such as smokingand drinking, or simply being exposed to such things as air and waterpollution. The older people get, the more their memory can be impaired by this.There are many vitamins on the market that will help to prevent this problem,and when you are taking the proper amounts of them, your brain and memoryfunction can be improved.

The B Vitamin groups, especially folic acid, andVitamins B-6 and B-12 help with brain function. They are especially helpfulwith information processing, and verbal skills. This is an important group ofvitamins for the elderly, whose brain function begins to slow down. Vitamin B-6 has been proven to help withmemory retention, and the other B vitamins have been shown to promote mentalclarity. Each different B vitamin helps in a slightly different way, but almostall of them are quite necessary with the development of the brain and brainfunction. By taking their B vitamins, the elderly are helping to keep theirminds and bodies strong for years to come.

Vitamin E has been shown to help improve memoryfunction by neutralizing the chemicals that are collected in the brain overtime by cigarette smoke, alcohol, and air pollution. Taking Vitamin E can beespecially helpful in trying to help with the memories of those who have ledparticularly unhealthy lifestyles. Drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol consumptionoften times help contribute to memory loss down the line, because thesepollutants deposit into the brain and cause problems with brain development andfunctioning, as well as memory functioning.

Vitamin C helps with brain function as well, andaids in the overall lifetime performance of memory and other brain functions.Some studies have even shown that those who receive an adequate supply ofvitamin C even have a tendency to live longer lives. Vitamin C is especially important in theelderly who tend to have less adequate immune systems than those whom areyounger. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system and keep the elderly healthyas they get older.

Doctor Recommended Vitamins and Supplements

Due to declining bone health in most elderlypeople, it is important to always take a calcium supplement and maintain anadequate supply of calcium in the body to help prevent brittle bone disease andbroken bones due to falls. It is also quite important to take a daily fibersupplement because it is unusual for an elderly person to ingest all of thenecessary fiber that is needed to keep one healthy simply from diet alone.Because the elderly are less likely to be exposed to prolonged sunshine, a Vitamin D supplement is also recommended,especially since it can also help with bone density and bone strength. In fact,the required amount of Vitamin D is greater in an elderly person than a personof a younger age.

Folate and Vitamin B-12 are vitamins that are alsogreatly recommended for seniors. These will aid in both digestion and properskin health. Luckily, most multivitamins that are designed for seniors aimtheir content directly to what most seniors are said to need. Shopping forvitamins based upon who will be taking them is a fairly simple and fool proofmethod of deciding how much of each vitamin and mineral is needed for thatindividual person. Of course, consulting a doctor on which multivitamin orsingle vitamin is best for a particular person can give one a better insight onwhat is perfectly right for them.

Stay Tuned For Part 3 Where You Will Learn About Vitamins & Men

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. CompleteNutra products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please discuss all specific medical conditions and advice with your healthcare provider.