A person who takes supplements and medicines in the same time is at risk for supplement and drug interactions. However, these types of interactions are seen more in older people when compared with young adults. Physiologic changes that occur during aging process man increase the risk of supplement and drug interactions. Most of the vitamin and mineral supplements such as vitamin E, zinc and calcium can interact with certain kinds of drugs.
How do a supplement and drug interacts?
Supplements and drugs can interact in many ways.
- In some case, a supplement and drug may have same purpose in the body. Consuming both in the same day can result in an overly strong effect which may leads to severe complications.
- In some other cases, a supplement and drug may act in opposite way. For example, supplements that help to increase the power of immune system could interfere with the activities of drugs which are designed to inhibit the immune system.
- There are some supplements which may influence the absorption of a drug from the intestine into the blood stream. For instance, if calcium supplements and certain thyroid medicines are consumed at the same time, only less amount of the drug can be absorbed which in turn the medicine won’t be effective to do its work.
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