Medical drugs disrupt the utilization of nutrients
There are around 750,000 people in Denmark who take several medical drugs per day, and the number of users is on the rise. What many people are unaware of is that different drugs can disrupt the body’s ability to absorb or utilize one or several nutrients, especially things like B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K2, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron, and coenzyme Q10. It is therefore vital to get sufficient amounts of the mentioned nutrients to reduce the risk of adverse effects.
Millions of people around the world take medicine against high cholesterol, rheumatism, diabetes, hypertension, too much stomach acid, depression, ADHD, infections, asthma, and other illnesses. In the course of a year, more than four million Danes get prescription medicine and even though the use of birth control pills and opioids is decreasing, the total consumption of medical drugs continues to go up, even among younger people.
The massive use of medicine is associated with an array of harmful biochemical and pathological processes and is related to a number of different side effects that are often treated by administering even more medical drugs. Unfortunately, there is little focus on the fact that many medical drugs result in impaired uptake or utilization of vitamins, minerals, and Q10 and that this can contribute to oxidative stress and cause a number of adverse effects. What is more, there is far too little knowledge about the dangerous “cocktail effects” of taking so many different medical drugs simultaneously.
In the following review, which is essentially just the tip of the iceberg, you will find in alphabetical order a list of different medical drugs and medicine types and the nutrient deficiencies they may cause:
| ACE-inhibitors (Enalapril, Captoripril) used to manage hypertension and heart failure: | Zinc. |
| Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), pain and fever relief, blood-thinning effect: | Vitamin C |
| Antibiotics and sulfa drugs against infections: | Vitamin B2, vitamin B6, biotin, vitamin K, potassium, and important lactic acid bacteria |
| Antidepressants (SSRI, Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, etc.): | Folic acid and other B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, Q10, melatonin |
| Beta-blockers for treating heart failure, arrhythmia, hypertension, and anxiety: | Q10, melatonin. |
| Corticosteroids against inflammation and a number of different diseases: | Vitamin D, vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin A, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, selenium. |
| Thiazides (hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and chlorthalidone), diuretics with an anti-hypertensive effect: | Q10, magnesium, zinc, potassium. |
| Digoxin for treating atrial fibrillation and cardiac insufficiency: | Vitamin B1, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus. |
| Anti-seizure drugs: | Biotin, folic acid, vitamin D, zinc, selenium. |
| Heparin for preventing blood clots: | Vitamin D. |
| Chemotherapy against cancer: | Vitamin B12, magnesium, and a number of other nutrients. |
| Levodopa against Parkinson’s disease: | Vitamin B3, vitamin B6, potassium. |
| Losartan (Cozaar, angiotensin-II receptor antagonist) against hypertension, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease: | Calcium, magnesium, potassium, chloride, sodium, phosphorous. |
| Metformin against type 2 diabetes: | Folic acid, vitamin B12. |
| Methotrexate against inflammatory rheumatoid disease: | Folic acid, vitamin B12, calcium. |
| NSAID preparations (Ibuprofen etc.) against rheumatoid arthritis and pain: | Folic acid, iron. |
| PPI (proton pump inhibitors) against heartburn and too much stomach acid: | Beta-carotene, vitamin B12, calcium, and possibly magnesium |
| Birth control pills: | Most B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, selenium, manganese, iodine, Q10 |
| Ritalin (methylphenidate) against ADHD and narcolepsy: | Vitamin D, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium |
| Statins (simvastatin etc.) for treating elevated cholesterol: | Q10, vitamin D, vitamin K2, vitamin E, beta-carotene. |
| Antacids for treating heart burn and too much stomach acid: | Vitamin A, vitamin B1, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin K, calcium, copper. |
| Tetracyclines for treating infections and acne: | Vitamin B2, vitamin B6, biotin, vitamin K, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc. |
| Diuretics against edemas, hypertension, and heart failure: | Vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, potassium, magnesium, sodium, zinc. |
| Ventolin for treating COPD and asthma: | Calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus. |
| Warfarin (Marevan) against deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism: | Vitamin K |
- More than 30 percent of Danes suffer from more than one chronic disease, while around 250,000 Danes have four diseases or more
- Patients who take five drugs or more are also called polypharmacy patients
- One in five Danes older than 60 years of age takes over 10 drugs every day
- Many diseases and side effects are caused by a deficiency of one or several vital nutrients.
- Ask your doctor to measure your levels of the different vitamins and minerals. You can even consult a professional dietician for help
- You should always consult your physician before you discontinue your use of a prescription drug
References:
Sundhedsdatastyrelsen. Nye tal for brug af medicin. 21. 03. 2023
Maria Klit. Vi vidste ikke, at de fik så meget medicin. Sygeplejersken 2021
Thomas Wnorowski. Medications Deplete Essential Vitamins and Minerals, Here´s How to Protect Yourself. Bodybio. January 30, 2023
Stephen J Genuis and Edmund Kyrillos. Drugs which create deficiencies in vitamin D, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron etc. Toxicol Mech Methods 2017
http://www.netdoktor.dk/vitaminer/
http://www.netdoktor.dk/vitaminer/oversigtmineraler.htm
Search for more information...
- Created on .