Top 3 Vitamins You Should Avoid: A Pharmacist’s Advice

While more than half of Americans regularly consume multivitamins and dietary supplements, health professionals, including doctors and pharmacists, assert that many of these products are not worth the investment.

In a TikTok video, Pharmacist Amina Khan, who boasts 271,000 followers, highlighted three types of supplements she would avoid, notably the trendy gummy vitamins.

Gummy vitamins often fall short, primarily because they are laden with sugar, typically containing three to five grams per gummy. Although it may seem insignificant, the recommended daily dosage of two gummies could contribute up to ten grams of sugar, which approaches the American Heart Association’s suggested limits of 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men.

Khan quipped, ‘These are practically sugar pills—might as well indulge in a candy instead.’ She warned that excessive consumption could potentially lead to mineral toxicity.

Moreover, multivitamins are often criticized for containing minimal amounts of essential nutrients, rendering them ineffective. Similarly, popular supplements for hair, skin, and nails are deemed ineffective; Khan suggests that specific supplements targeting individual issues, such as vitamin B8 for hair or vitamin D for skin health, are much more beneficial.

Dr. Pieter Cohen from Harvard Medical School also expressed skepticism about these supplements, emphasizing that robust evidence supporting their efficacy is lacking. With many supplements unregulated by the FDA, the potential for undisclosed substances and harmful interactions with medications remains a concern. Hence, consumers are advised to exercise caution and prioritize proven methods for health improvement.