With shelves full of vitamins, herbal remedies and dietary supplements promising better health, Hawkesbury residents are being reminded that "natural" does not always mean safe.
Health experts are urging Australians, particularly older people, to seek professional advice before taking vitamins or supplements after growing evidence that many people are self-prescribing without understanding the potential risks.
The warning follows recent research showing supplement use has become commonplace. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around one in three Australians (33.6 per cent) took a dietary supplement in 2023, with vitamins and minerals the most commonly used products.
While supplements can play an important role in treating genuine vitamin deficiencies and supporting specific health conditions, doctors say they should never be seen as a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet.
Hidden risks
A recent investigation by British consumer organisation Which? found many people take several supplements every day without knowing whether they actually need them or whether they are consuming safe amounts.
Three-quarters of those surveyed said they regularly used supplements, yet most had never discussed their choices with a doctor, pharmacist or dietitian.
Health professionals say that can create unexpected problems.
Like prescription medicines, supplements can cause side effects, interact with medications and even become harmful when taken in excessive amounts.
Older Australians are considered particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to be managing chronic health conditions while taking several prescription medicines.
Vitamin B6 warning
One recent example involved vitamin B6.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) strengthened safety requirements after receiving reports of more than 100 Australians developing peripheral neuropathy—a painful and sometimes debilitating form of nerve damage—linked to excessive vitamin B6 intake.
Many people affected were unknowingly consuming the vitamin from several different products, resulting in cumulative overdoses despite following the instructions on individual supplements.
The case highlights how easily vitamin levels can build up when multiple products contain the same ingredient.
Not all supplements are equally assessed
Many Australians assume products sold in pharmacies and health food stores have all undergone rigorous testing before reaching the shelves.
However, while supplements are regulated as medicines by the TGA, many lower-risk complementary medicines are not individually assessed for effectiveness before they are marketed.
That places greater responsibility on consumers to understand why they are taking a supplement and whether it is appropriate for their circumstances.
Health professionals say common risks include:
- taking supplements that are unnecessary;
- exceeding recommended daily doses;
- doubling up on ingredients contained in multiple products; and
- interactions with prescription medicines, including blood thinners, heart medications and antidepressants.
Getting the right advice
Doctors and pharmacists say the safest approach is to discuss any new supplement with a healthcare professional before starting it.
A GP, pharmacist or accredited practising dietitian can determine whether a supplement is actually needed, recommend an appropriate dose and identify any potential interactions with existing medications.
For many people, the nutrients needed for good health can be obtained through a varied diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and dairy products.
Supplements still have an important role in some circumstances, including treating diagnosed deficiencies or supporting specific medical conditions, but experts say they should be used carefully and for the right reasons.
As more Australians turn to vitamins in the hope of improving their health, the message from health authorities is straightforward: before adding another supplement to the shopping basket, it is worth checking whether it is truly necessary and whether it is safe.
