Void food supplements without prescription

Experts have warned against taking food supplements without prescription or medical advice as these may cause cancer, infertility and even lead to sexual impotence.

Some experts have pointed out that these amount to medications (food supplements: vitamins) of unknown source/origin that are entering the Sultanate’s markets.

Speaking to Al Shabiba, the sister publication of the Times of Oman, Dr. Muataz Jado, medical officer at Advanced Fertility & Genetics Centre, said all vitamins were not completely safe.

“Vitamins taken by the youth at the gyms/centres without medical consultation could cause infertility and sexual impotence as there are cases in which those who take food supplements believed that these supplements are simply vitamins and have no side effects. Some food supplements comprise hormones that are detrimental to human bones and could cause cancer,” he added.

For instance, Vitamin E, if taken for a long time and in big quantities, can cause liver cancer. The WHO has been opposing for over ten years the use of Vitamin E during pregnancy as it causes cancer and congenital malformation of the embryo.

“Food supplements have become popular and their use is not restricted to body building,” he added. There are some medications that enter the Sultanate under the term “food supplements,” a majority of which are imported, mainly from places not subject to the federal law of these countries.

The majority of such food supplements are exported to the Middle East region. There are also other medications in the market, the source of which is unknown and that do not carry any details in any language, he added. It seems unusual that people do take medications of unknown sources just because someone advised them to do so.

Outlets selling food supplements refuted allegations that they popularised such supplements. A manager at one such outlet said the “food supplements they sell are vitamins authorised by the Ministry of Health and these have no side effects.”



Source: http://timesofoman.com/article/65214/Oman/Health/Oman-health-Food-supplements-can-be-dangerous-say-experts