A pharmacist has shared a strong warning on social media about the risks of improper supplement use, urging caution and suggesting that some supplements should include warning labels to help prevent serious mistakes.
Ariana Medizade, known as @thewellnesspharm on TikTok, has gone viral with a video that got over 138,000 views, where she educates her followers on “how to take supplements the right way”.
With a bold on-screen message, she urged viewers: “STOP MAKING THESE DANGEROUS SUPPLEMENT MISTAKES.”
Medizade explained that some supplements are not safe to take alone, stressing: “There should be a warning label on supplements for this, but I would never take vitamin D3 by itself. You always have to take vitamin D3 with K2.”
She highlights the risks of taking vitamin D3 without pairing it with K2, explaining that this can cause calcium to accumulate in areas like the arteries instead of the bones, potentially leading to calcification and other serious health problems over time, reports Surrey Live.
BetterYou provides additional context to her claim, explaining that taking vitamin D3 alongside vitamin K2 is essential, as it promotes proper calcium absorption and directs it to bone mass, while also preventing calcium buildup in the arteries.
Additionally, the site notes that K2 aids in regulating normal bloody clotting and vitamin D3 contributes to a healthy immune system and muscle function. The website also highlights how difficult it is to get adequate amounts of these key nutrients from just diet alone, as few foods are rich in K2.
Medizade cautions against using St. John’s Wort, a supplement commonly taken for depression, menopausal symptoms, and anxiety. She advises individuals on other medications, such as oral contraceptives and antidepressants, to think twice before using this supplement.
St. John’s Wort can lead to “breakthrough bleeding, follicle growth, and ovulation” when taken with other medications. It also has a “CYP3A4 inducer,” which speeds up how the body processes drugs and can reduce their effectiveness.
The National Institutes of Health has identified several CYP3A4 inducers, including “barbiturates (phenobarbital), carbamazepine, corticosteroids, phenytoin, rifampicin and St John’s wort”.
Medizade further cautions her audience against taking zinc and magnesium simultaneously, explaining that these minerals “compete for absorption” when taken together. “You’re just wasting your money,” she remarks.
Zinc and magnesium are among the seven essential minerals required for maintaining good health, along with iron, calcium, iodine, silica, and selenium.
BetterYou advises that, for most people, combining these two supplements is generally safe; however, there is one combination that should be avoided.
It states: “As zinc can interact with other minerals (calcium and iron, for example) and vitamins, you need to be aware of how combining them can impair your body’s ability to absorb them.
“You should avoid taking zinc and copper together zinc, particularly in high doses, can stop your body absorbing copper and potentially lead to a deficiency. In some people, it can also cause bones to weaken.”
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