Kit Roberts
Experts have issued a warning to anyone taking vitamin supplements every day.
The supplements are commonly taken when someone does not have enough of an important vitamin, whether it's to boost something with your diet or to remedy the longer nights in winter with Vitamin D.
The market for supplements is booming, with many people popping a vitamin tablet of some sort to help counter a deficiency in their diet or lifestyle - despite the evidence for their benefit being decidedly mixed.
But now some health experts have warned that taking vitamins every day may cause more problems than it solves.
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While some studies have suggested that the supplements don't have any significant positive impact, others have claimed that there may even be downsides to taking them.
Speaking to the Express, nutritionist Dr Carol Granger said that it can depend on precisely which supplements you are taking.
While some can be okay, she said, there are others out there which may be actively bad for you.
She said: "People think supplements are healthy, and while some can be, others can be as detrimental to health as ultra-processed foods when taken regularly in large amounts."
This can even be the difference between capsules and tablets, with capsules being 'less processed' than tablets according to nutritionist Aimee Benbow.
In particular, she warned, white tablets can 'often use titanium dioxide', an ingredient which is frequently used in toothpaste to whiten teeth.
While the use of titanium dioxide is not permitted by the European Food Safety Authority, an agency of the European Union, it is permitted in the UK.
Of course, another issue is the frequency of a dose, as anything can become dangerous if you have too much of it, even things like water.
The BBC reported that some supplements may contain as much as five or 10 times the recommended daily dose of the vitamin.
This can be very serious, with overdosing on vitamins having the potential to land people in hospital.
For example, too much vitamin D can cause seizures and coma, while vitamin A can cause pain, coma, and death.
To be clear, these side effects occur when you take a very large amount of these vitamins.
Nonetheless, there are some benefits from vitamin supplements as well.
Superdrug pharmacy superintendent Niamh McMillan highlighted that the Department of Health and Social Care recommends that everyone take a vitamin D supplement in the winter when the nights are longer and exposure to less sunlight means we don't have as much.
Anyone planning to take supplements regularly should also consult a medical professional to find out more about potential side effects.