List of Toxic Ingredients Used in Vitamin Supplements

All vitamins are not created equal. Synthetic vitamins  are created using chemical compounds that are not found in nature. While they  are not completely bad for you, your body cannot utilize them as they can  natural vitamins, which contain ingredients from plants or food. Some of the  chemicals used as the base for these vitamins include nicotine, coal tars and  alloxal, which are toxic substances. According to the Organic Consumers  Association, fat-soluble vitamins are especially dangerous in synthetic form, as  they can build up in your body’s fat tissues and liver. Because they are  unnatural substances that your body cannot readily metabolize, the storage of  these vitamins can be potentially toxic. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins  A, D, E and K..

Many vitamins include additives to create the desired  form, color, taste or weight. Unfortunately, some manufacturers use ingredients  that carry risks that far outweigh their benefits. When choosing a vitamin,  watch out for ingredients such as magnesium stearate or stearic acid, which are  toxic flowing agents. Also avoid toxic ingredients such as silicon dioxide,  which makes vitamins weigh more, and “natural flavors,” a term often used for  MSG, a toxic additive used to mask a poor-tasting supplement. Other toxic  ingredients include methylcellulose, carnuba wax and titanium  dioxide.

The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals reports  that nine trace minerals should be consumed in very small amounts because all  trace minerals are toxic at high levels. These minerals include chromium,  copper, iodine, iron, fluorine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. In  addition, some vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E or K, can be toxic in large  megadoses. The FDA warns that vitamin supplements should only be taken in the  recommended dosage amounts to avoid the negative consequences of  overdose.

In March 2010, the Mateel Environmental Justice  Foundation commissioned testing on several fish oil supplements. It was found  that the supplements contained PCB, a cancer-causing chemical that was banned  from use in 1979, but is still present in the environment.  The group  consequently sued the manufacturers of these supplements, including CVS  Pharmacy, GNC, Now Health Group, Omega Protein, Pharmavite, Rite Aid, Solgar and  Twin Lab. A May 2010 article in the “New York Times” reported that almost every  herbal dietary supplement tested in a congressional investigation contained  trace amounts of contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic.  Sixteen of the 40 supplements tested also contained pesticide residues. The FDA  reports that, while the government is responsible for corrective action, it is  the responsibility of supplement manufacturers to ensure safety. For this  reason, choose a manufacturer that can prove that safety testing has been done  on both the supplement ingredients and the finished product.

References

• Organic Consumers Association; “Background Info  on Synthetic vs. Natural Vitamins (Q&A)”; February 2007
• Colorado State University Extension; “Fat-Soluble  Vitamins”; J. Anderson et al.; August 2008
• Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals;  “Mineral Deficiency and Toxicity”; Overview of Minerals; August 2008
• ABC 7 KGO-TV San Francisco, CA; “Lawsuit Over  Contamination in Fish Oil Supplements”; Michael Finney; March 2010
• “New York Times”; “Study Finds Supplements  Contain Contaminants”; Gardiner Harris; May 2010
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration; “Fortify Your  Knowledge About Vitamins”; February 2009