Vitamins and Supplements - More may be worse!

Supplement companies are quick to advertise their unsubstantiated claims for success. Indeed, a small study that has marginal impact can lead to an explosion of vitamin recommendations (it was found that turmeric supplement in 13 mice resulted in a small improvement in their ability to run a maze; this article was quoted in many turmeric supplements as medical proof that it prevents Alzheimer's!!).

Now some reports have surfaced that certain vitamins can be harmful when used in excess; and excess can mean amounts just above therapeutic recommendations!

Could High Maternal Folate and B12 Levels Be Linked to Autism?

Although previous studies have found that adequate folic acid supplementation is associated with reduced autism risk, in this report researchers looked at the mothers' serum folate and B12 levels within 1–3 days of giving birth. Women with very high folate levels (above 59 nmol/L) had roughly twice the risk for having a child who developed autism, relative to women with lower levels. In addition, high B12 levels (above 600 pmol/L) were associated with three times the risk for autism — and if both levels were high, the child had 17 times the risk. So more may not be better!

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-05/jhub-tmf050916.php

Calcium Supplements Linked to Dementia Risk

In a study released recently (Neurology 10.1212), using Swedish registries, researchers followed 700 women aged 70 to 92 without dementia at baseline. Roughly 14% were using calcium supplements at baseline, and about half were still doing so at follow-up 5 years later.

Some 59 women developed dementia during the study. Calcium use at baseline was associated with increased risk for dementia -- but only among women with a history of stroke or evidence of arteriosclerosis. This is definitely NOT a cause and effect, but suggests that calcium supplementation should only be used if there is a real indication and proof that it helps. Currently we do not even know that it prevents or helps with osteoporosis! Guidelines suggest no more than 500 mg per day.