Natural Kidney Supplements
Most patients fail to inform their health care providers of their supplements use, and physicians rarely inquire. Annually, thousands of dietary supplements may cause side effects that are reported to Poison Control Centers nationwide.
46% percent of supplements users consider these products to be safe and effective. Unfortunately, most patients likely do not understand the adverse events or drug–supplement interactions.
In a 2002 survey, 36% of Americans used some form of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM), mostly herbs, nonherbal supplements, and vitamins (collectively referred to as dietary supplements).It is concluded that the use of dietary supplements be monitored closely in all patients.
Dietary supplements are not checked for impurities or adulteration which results in lack of GMP in dietary supplements. Also, there are no requirements for product labeling to warn potential risks.
A variety of foods that are ingested for medicinal purposes have been associated with kidney functions. It should be noted that many widely used dietary supplements are not generally taken in pure form but are mixtures of a variety of entities, which may have multiple interactions with each other.
Reports of contamination of dietary supplements are common. However, few cases of supplement adulteration have resulted in kidney injury.
10 Dietary Supplements affecting Kidney Function:
1. Cat’s claw
2. Chaparral
3. Chromium
4. Cranberry
5. Creatine
6. Ephedra
7. Germanium
8. Hydrazine
9. Licorice Antibiotic
10. Vitamin C
Conclusion:
Dietary supplements are available as OTC products in markets where people consider them safe for medication and most patients take these products without consulting Pharmacists.
It is necessary that Pharmacists take an active role in identifying supplement use among their patients, and advise their patients on the proper use of supplements for medication.
