10 mistakes people make when taking vitamins, microelements and dietary supplements

Mistake #1. Not monitoring vitamin D levels

Vitamin D

has a positive effect on insulin resistance and metabolism, the body’s ability to resist acute respiratory viral infections and oxidative stress, and reduces the risk of developing cancer and abnormalities in fetal development during pregnancy. Moreover, “sunshine” vitamin D helps not to feel depressed and reduces pain during childbirth.

In regions with low levels of insolation (including St. Petersburg), vitamin D deficiency is extremely common. However, you should not take it for preventive purposes, since vitamin D is still a steroid hormone. Only after a special laboratory blood test for D-hormone can you find out its level in the body, and then correct the deficiency.

How safe is Panangin during pregnancy?

You can be sure that potassium and magnesium are vital for the body, and the deficiency of these elements must be replenished in order to avoid the development of serious complications. The effectiveness of Panangin during pregnancy has been proven in the following conditions:

• preeclampsia, eclampsia in pregnant women;
• arrhythmias;
• leg muscle cramps.

The safety of Panangin is supported by the fact that in many forums this drug is compared with vitamins for the heart. In essence, this is true. The main thing is to remember the fact that a deficiency of elements is just as dangerous as their excess, especially during pregnancy.

Therefore, do not self-medicate under any circumstances and use Panangin strictly in accordance with the recommendations of your doctor, especially during pregnancy.

Do not forget that Panangin should be consumed after meals - this way you will minimize the risk of side effects from the gastrointestinal tract, which are considered the most common for Panangin.

I would like to note that there are no absolute contraindications to the use of Panangin during pregnancy and lactation. However, in the first 12 weeks, if possible, it should be abandoned, since there is no clinical data on its effect on the embryo.

Mistake #2. Taking calcium without normalizing vitamin D and magnesium

Calcium

- an important mineral that maintains the good condition of bones and teeth, is responsible for blood clotting and growth, and maintains muscle tone and nervous system. Sufficient calcium intake is necessary for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, as well as arterial hypertension.

But calcium is not absorbed if the body is deficient in vitamin D and magnesium. Taking calcium in this case is simply pointless.

Why is Panangin prescribed during pregnancy?

The drug Panangin is a synthetic complex source of potassium and magnesium, which are presented in the form of aspartates, that is, these ions easily penetrate into cells and enter into the natural metabolic reactions of the body. In this way, you can quickly and effectively replenish the reserves of these mineral salts in the body.

Consequently, the need for such therapy arises in situations where a deficiency of magnesium and potassium occurs or when the body’s need for them increases. These are, in particular, the following conditions during pregnancy:

• heart rhythm disturbance;
• coronary heart failure;
• ischemic disease during pregnancy;
• treatment with cardiac glycosides;
• hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia (that is, a lack of potassium and magnesium, in particular in the diet).

As you can see, the drug Panangin is aimed mainly at maintaining the functioning of the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. But this does not mean at all that if you were prescribed Panangin during pregnancy, then we are talking about heart pathologies, although this reason is not at all excluded.

Mistake #3. Don't know what vitamin D to take

Cholecalciferol

- an inactive form of vitamin D, it is what is needed to correct its deficiency so that all body systems work properly and you feel good.
The drug cholecalciferol is safe - the likelihood of overdose is low. But there is another, active form of vitamin D - calcitriol
. It can only be taken under the supervision of a physician and for medical reasons.

Mistake #4. Taking vitamin D does not always mean normalizing its levels

Vitamin D is poorly absorbed in the following situations:

1. Problems with the gallbladder (or rather, with bile outflow) - vitamin D is fat soluble, and bile is necessary for the absorption of fats.
2. Inflammatory bowel diseases and microflora disorders.
3. Excess weight
   - D-hormone is deposited in adipose tissue, so obese patients need to take vitamin D in larger doses.
4. Genetic abnormalities - there are no receptors sensitive to vitamin D.

Mistake #5. Ignore Omega-3

Why take Omega-3

polyunsaturated acid? It preserves visual acuity, beauty and protects the vascular endothelium from damage. The brain is 30% composed of Omega-3 fatty acids. The substance is not synthesized in the body independently. Unfortunately, even adherents of the Mediterranean diet do not always get enough Omega-3. The fatty acid is found in fatty fish, flaxseed, sea buckthorn and mustard oils.

Adults should take 2 grams of Omega-3 daily—or more. The exact dosage can be selected after an analysis called the Omega-3 index

.

The advantage of Omega-3 capsules over the same red fish is the good purification of fatty acids from harmful impurities that we can receive along with fish caught in a pond.

Alternative sources of potassium and magnesium

It is not always necessary to use pharmaceuticals to correct mineral balance. You can also increase your macronutrient levels with proper nutrition. The list of foods high in potassium and magnesium is presented in the table.

Mistake #6. Do not distinguish between Omega-3 and Omega-6

Omega-3

and
Omega-6
are healthy and important unsaturated fatty acids for the body. However, there is no additional need to take Omega-6 - we get this component in sufficient quantities from food - vegetable oils, poultry, oatmeal, etc. Excess Omega-6 can play into the hands of inflammatory processes in the body.

Mistake #7. Ignore iron (ferritin)

Iron deficiency leads to anemia, fatigue, muscle weakness, dry skin, and hair loss. Women are at risk for iron loss due to menstruation; vegetarians and vegetarians do not receive the required amount of this microelement.

Mistake #8. Taking Iron Blindly

In terms of absorption, iron is a particularly capricious microelement. It should be taken with particular caution. The point is not even that the drug in drops stains tooth enamel. Excess iron is deposited in internal organs (liver, pancreas, thyroid gland), leading to serious disorders: hemochromatosis, cirrhosis, hepatitis, melasma (dusty bronze skin color).

Iron is poorly absorbed with dairy products and coffee.

On the contrary, vitamin C, B12, and folic acid contribute to the favorable absorption of iron.

If iron is poorly absorbed, the doctor prescribes special complexes

.

Taking Panangin during pregnancy

Panangin in the second half of pregnancy helps to cope with swelling and cramps in the calf muscles. Although no one can guarantee you 100% success, many pregnant women still note a significant improvement in their condition and a general beneficial effect on the body.

The instructions indicate that calcium supplements interfere with the absorption of magnesium ions, and B vitamins (in particular B6), on the contrary, improve their absorption - check this issue with your doctor. Also, be sure to notify him whether you are taking any other medications during pregnancy and which ones.

To avoid the unpleasant and even dangerous consequences of some combinations between medications during pregnancy, the doctor may make some adjustments.

In general, if you feel like you are starting to choke or your heart is jumping out of your chest, then under no circumstances should you start taking Panangin without permission during pregnancy on the advice of a friend who “had this happen too.”

Only a qualified specialist (and only after a competent examination of the patient) is able to draw conclusions about whether there really is a lack of potassium and magnesium in your body, because an overdose of any of these substances is extremely dangerous for pregnant women!

Dosage of the drug

The dosage and duration of taking Panangin during pregnancy is always calculated individually, depending on the reasons for the prescription.

Rules for taking Panangin during pregnancy:

1. Most often, during pregnancy, Panangin is prescribed 1-2 tablets per day.
2. It is recommended to take the drug after meals, since gastric juice reduces its therapeutic effect.
3. Also, you should not combine Panangin with taking other drugs containing potassium and magnesium.

Mistake #9. Sports dietary supplements - trust and not test

Some athletes take proteins to accelerate muscle growth and “drying”. One of the most popular today is casein.

, which is made from ordinary cow's milk.
Casein protein is cheap to produce, but it is not suitable for everyone. Why is casein harmful? Once in the body, it turns into casomorphin
, which is addictive and can provoke inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, autoimmune diseases, swelling and lethargy.

Casein protein should not be taken by those who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as individual intolerance to lactose and casein.

Mistake #10. Not only collagen and hyaluronic acid are beneficial for the skin

After 35-40 years, the skin ages. Many women experience a lack of collagen peptides and hyaluronic acid: in this case, injection cosmetology and capsules come to the rescue as an auxiliary method of combating signs of age-related changes.

However, other components are also beneficial for the skin:

• Sex hormones;
• Vitamin C;
• Sulfur;
• Silicon;
• Iron;
• Zinc.

Consultation with an endocrinologist is a vector for your internal balance!

Liberanskaya Natalya Sergeevna

— endocrinologist, doctor of the highest category with more than 10 years of experience. Natalya Sergeevna sees patients with a variety of problems and issues within her specialization - excess weight, diabetes, thyroid problems, increased fatigue and drowsiness, pregnancy, menopause, metabolic disorders and endocrine glands.

Natalya Sergeevna is the author of the popular blog @doctor_liberanskaya, in which she regularly gives subscribers advice on maintaining health and therapy. All recommendations are based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and our own professional experience.

From 2021, Doctor Liberanskaya Natalya Sergeevna

accepts patients at the Pirogov Clinic - you can also undergo a consultation with an endocrinologist of the highest category.
To make the appointment informative and useful for you, we recommend taking the following tests:

• List of endocrinological tests

You can undergo the examination quickly, without queues and at a time convenient for you in our clinic.
Thanks to the latest diagnostic equipment and a team of qualified specialists from the laboratory of the Pirogov Clinic, you can be confident in objective and reliable results.

When is it strictly prohibited to use the drug?

There are pathological conditions in which the use of Panangin is strictly prohibited:

• individual hypersensitivity to active substances and auxiliary ingredients;
• hyperkalemia;
• hypermagnesemia;
• Addison's syndrome (adrenal cortex insufficiency);
• acute or chronic renal failure;
• atrioventricular block 1-3 degrees;
• severe myasthenia gravis;
• dehydration of the body (dehydration);
• cardiogenic shock;
• acidosis.

The medicine is not recommended for patients on dialysis.

Interaction with other drugs

The likelihood of an overdose increases significantly when using Panangin together with:

• beta blockers (“Bisoprolol”, “Metoprolol”);
• potassium-sparing diuretics (“Veroshpiron”, “Aldactone”, “Spironoxan”);
• direct anticoagulants (Heparin and its derivatives);
• ACE inhibitors (Enalapril, Lisinopril);
• immunosuppressant "Cyclosporine".

The simultaneous use of several potassium- or magnesium-containing drugs, including Asparkam, Calcitriol, etc., is very dangerous. During your consultation with a doctor, you must inform about all medications you are taking.

Overdose

As a result of taking increased doses of the drug in the blood, the concentration of K and Mg ions increases. A state of hyperkalemia-hypermagnesemia occurs, which is manifested by the following symptoms:

• profuse diarrhea (diarrhea), nausea, vomiting;
• severe weakness, slow heart rate (bradycardia);
• the appearance of arrhythmias (AV block);
• drowsiness;
• diplopia (double vision);
• in severe cases – cardiac and respiratory arrest.

If such symptoms appear, you should stop using the medicine and consult a doctor.