Pop goes the pill

As we embrace a fast-paced lifestyle that survives on fast food, nutrition is often lost in the pile of ready-to-eat and pill popping becomes the order of the day. Now how harmful can vitamin capsules be?

It is vitamin after all, and the doctor says vitamins are good...nutritious and healthy. But the truth is that an overdose of vitamin pills can not only cause health complications but can even be fateful.

The body faces a vitamin deficit when your daily diet is not balanced with vegetables green and dark, fruits and oils. Essentially, there are six vitamins required by the body, A, B, C, D, E and K. Vitamin A is good for eyes, bones and skin and is available in abundance in milk and milk products, as is vitamin D, which is considered healthy for the bones.

With the maximum components, and thus named vitamin B complex, it helps bolster metabolism, maintains healthy skin, enhances the nervous and immune systems and promotes cell growth. It can be found in bananas, potatoes, lentils, tuna and turkey.

The growth and repair of tissues, bones and teeth as well as the healing of wounds is taken care of by vitamin C, found in citrus fruits like oranges and sweet lime. Vitamin E, also present in a lot of moisturisers and face creams, is considered good for the skin and heart.

Found in oils, primarily sunflower and peanut oil, it is known to even cure certain heart diseases and degenerative disorder. Required for blood clotting, vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cheese and green tea.

Vitamin capsules are recommended by doctors only when there is enough deficiency in the body to create health problems. Normally a capsule is prescribed for a period of 15-20 days, beyond which doctors advice you to rely on food sources.

However, many tend to continue taking the pills for longer. Dr Sakshi Chawla, chief nutritionist, Fortis, says, "Since people relate these capsules with good health, they make them a part of their daily diet. Water soluble vitamins are alright to take everyday, but an overdose of fat soluble vitamins can be very harmful."

An excess of vitamins A, D, E and K can lead to toxicity since they get stored in the liver and can lead to hemorrhage or neurological changes.

Nutritionist Ishi Khosla explains, "Though vitamin E is known to be quite safe, it can work against you if taken in large quantities. In fact, these vitamin pills can also contradict the effect of medication if taken during treatment."