Dietary supplements have certain health benefits, but if used indiscriminately, they can lead to poisoning due to excess substances, even complications, and even death. Therefore, when using dietary supplements, you need to consult a doctor.
Hospitalized for arbitrary use of functional foods
Cua Dong General Hospital ( Nghe An ) has just received and treated a patient with acute liver failure due to the use of beauty supplements of unknown origin. Examination and test results showed that the patient had acute liver failure, liver enzyme index was 20 times higher than normal, jaundice syndrome, accompanied by loss of appetite and fatigue.
Previously, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital received Ms. VTT (25 years old, Lam Dong ) for examination in a state of fatigue, with red rash, blisters and erosions covering more than 60% of the body, accompanied by damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, nose... Ms. T. said that due to psoriasis, she bought functional foods to use, after about 5-7 days, small rashes appeared on her body, then a rash. She called the seller to ask about the strange symptoms when using this functional food, and received the answer that "it is having the effect of detoxifying", so she continued to use it.
People need to consult a doctor when using functional foods, should not use them on their own. In particular, using functional foods of unknown origin is very dangerous for health. 
By about the 18th day, her condition worsened, her body ached unbearably, and her family took her to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed her with toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome) after using dietary supplements. If she did not receive timely emergency care, she could die.
The National Children's Hospital ( Hanoi ) also admitted two siblings, VL (3 years old) and MH (18 months old), who were admitted with severe vomiting and abdominal pain. The family said that they had been giving the two children vitamin D every day since birth.
Seeing that the two children liked to drink it and thought that vitamins were supplements, drinking a lot was okay, so instead of giving them the prescribed dosage, the family let them drink as much as they wanted. About 2 weeks before being hospitalized, both children had symptoms of vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain 8-9 times/day.
Examination results showed that both children had hypercalcemia, vitamin D levels were much higher than normal, and there were signs of acute kidney failure. They were diagnosed with vitamin D poisoning and acute kidney failure due to long-term vitamin D overdose.
Double-edged sword
According to health experts, consuming as little as five times the recommended daily allowance (RDI) of minerals, zinc, iron, chromium, and selenium, can have negative effects on the body. This is because consuming minerals at five times the RDI can exceed the body's ability to accept and process them. This leads to an unwanted accumulation of minerals in the body, causing health risks ranging from digestive disorders to serious problems such as death.
High fluoride intake, especially in children, can not only cause blurred vision, but also weaken teeth, causing gum and tooth problems. High fish oil intake can affect blood clotting, increasing the risk of blood and cardiovascular problems. Iron poisoning is also common. Even small amounts exceeding the RDI can cause gastrointestinal upset, nausea, and black stools. Severe toxicity can lead to coma and even death.
Not to mention, there are also functional foods mixed with banned substances on the market today. According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center (Bach Mai Hospital), recently, the facility has recorded many products that are functional foods mixed with banned toxic substances, or mixed with substances that are allowed to be used but with an unsafe dosage.
The center has received cases of poisoning from functional foods containing banned substances, including cases of patients falling into a coma, having convulsions, brain damage and requiring emergency treatment. Test results show that these products contain banned substances that affect health such as Sibutramine, Phenolphtalein... There are even substances that are only allowed in medicine, but are added to functional foods. Patients who take these substances have a great impact on their health because it is completely impossible to control the quality and dosage.
Therefore, people need to consult a doctor when using functional foods, should not use them on their own. In particular, using functional foods of unknown origin is very dangerous for health.
According to doctors, functional foods are a double-edged sword. Before using them, you must see if your body needs to supplement them or not. Because each person's body is different, so their tolerance to drugs is also different. People with underlying liver or kidney diseases who use functional foods incorrectly will cause liver failure, kidney failure, etc.
Dr. Tran Nam Chung, Deputy Head of the Department of Orthopedics (Hospital E) shared that functional foods are effective in supporting the treatment and prevention of bone and joint diseases. In some cases, to support the treatment of bone and joint diseases, doctors will prescribe additional functional foods for patients. For example, in some cases of osteoporosis, patients may be deficient in calcium and vitamin D, so they can take functional foods.
People can also use functional foods for bones and joints to prevent diseases. However, because functional foods need to be taken for a long time, Dr. Tran Nam Chung noted that people should consult a medical expert to choose the type of functional food that is suitable for their health, avoiding taking it too early or too late, then the functional food will not be effective, even wasting money and causing illness.
Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment process and the type of medicine the patient is using, doctors will choose the appropriate bone and joint functional food for the patient to take. That is the reason why patients should not buy functional foods based on “word of mouth” experience or advertising.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/lam-dung-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-con-dao-hai-luoi-d218471.html
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