Expert: Glen Aukerman, M.D. - 1/27/2009

Question
Is it possible to consume too many supplements?
I have gone from taking a few, for digestion,to taking over a dozen at one time,twice a day, with meals.
I am trying to:
1.Improve my digestion
2.Jump start my 'hormones' (I am 50 with sings of andropause)
3.Lower my blood pressure 'naturally' without having to go on prescription. I have already quit salt,booze,tobacco,fatty foods,etc.
Here is what I take and why.
Could you check it out
Digestive enzynes
Probiotics
Coconut oil-raise metabolism to lose weight?

nettle root
saw palmetto to reduce need to pee as often seems to work

garlic-increase circulation seems to work
hawthorn-reduce blood pressure just started to early to tell

vitex
pregnenalone
sasparilla  to increase testosterone and reduce estrogen. May be working.Ceretainly in a better mood mentally since the preg.

foti-supposed to darken hair maybe.
My wife is concerned with what appears to be my overusage and thinks that instead of curing my problems,chiefly the increasing blood pressure,I may be contributing to it.
Thanks!


Answer
Sorry, but I would agree with your wife's concerns.

Most of what you list would appear to have no scientific basis for use in humans though may be supported or not in rat studies, for instance;
1) Coconut oil is high in omega-6 plant oil known to stimulate most diseases and raise blood pressure as does hawthorn, see http://efaeducation.nih.gov for educational lectures and to see how really toxic coconut oil is.

2) Others simply do not make sense for the human body such as nettle root, digestive enzymes, vitex, pregnenalone and sasparilla. Foti is not supported by science to be of much value or harm.

3) Saw palmetto could be actually useful if you actually have prostatic hypertrophy while garlic can lower blood pressure but has a better effect on BP as a condiment not as a treatment.

4) Most probiotics are not functional since studies have shown most probiotic products are really dead due to poor shelf life unless refrigerated dairy products like yogurt, buttermilk or cottage cheese, see www.consumerlabs.com

In summary, so many products are sold with at best an intent to help at worse as an income generator to the manufacturer or vendor so I am sorry to say what only serious study can sort these out.

see www.pubmed.gov and search for each to see why I have to agree with your wife