Kimberly Kavanaugh

NUT 111B
5/21/2014
Issue Statement: The use of dietary supplements, along with prescription medications, has been
found to be more prevalent among those with certain medical conditions than those without.
Taking dietary supplements is a common practice among many people. Whether it is
someone with a diagnosed condition, or someone looking to get healthy, humans turn to certain
supplements for various reasons. Common supplements taken with prescription drugs include
multivitamins with added ingredients, such as fish oil. Multivitamins with added ingredients
could possibly interfere with the makeup of the prescription medication and inhibit certain
functions of the body and/or the function of the prescription drug.
Shereen Jegtvig wrote an article reviewing a study from the (Journal of the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics). This study aimed to determine if use of dietary supplements varied
among people with different medical conditions and to see how many people living in the U.S.
were taking supplements and medications together (1). The participants of this study were
instructed to answer whether or not they had any medical conditions, which were listed in the
questionnaire. Researchers found that of the 10,480 adults surveyed, about 47% of them who
said they did have any of the listed conditions, admitted to using both dietary supplements and
prescription medications together. Overall, including those who did not have any of the medical
conditions, it was found that 34% of the participants were taking both supplements and
medications together (2). Jegtvig states that the authors call the findings concerning because
some herbal supplements are known to alter the way the liver metabolizes drugs, and can
increase or weaken the potency of a medication (1). A person thinking of taking a dietary
supplement, while on medication, should consult a health professional before doing so.

The popular press article accurately pointed out the major methods and findings of the
scientific journal. Each article presented the same conclusive data that about 1 in 3 adults are
taking supplements and medications in conjunction with one another. The scientific journal goes
into more detail about how the participants were selected and broke down the results based on
gender. The popular press article did not alter any of the scientific results and still presented the
necessary facts. Jegtvig made the article reader-friendly. In a third peer-reviewed article from the
Epilepsy & Behavior journal, authors agreed with the first two articles stating that,
combinations of these drugs, as well as dietary supplements, with antiepileptic drugs may lead
to reduced control of seizures and of coexisting medical conditions and increased risk of adverse
drug reactions (3). This supports the fact that the use of dietary supplements can inhibit the
purpose of a medication and even have adverse effects on the body. The stated conclusions in
both peer-reviewed articles are supported by their research. The (Journal of the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics) concluded that cardiovascular agents (16.2%) were the most common
medication to be used with supplements (2). The article from Epilepsy & Behavior yielded
similar results of combined use prevalence to that of the (Journal of the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics).
Researchers should determine if the classification of the prescription drug matters when
combining with a dietary supplement. Is there a greater risk of adverse effects when taking
cardiovascular medication versus psychotherapeutic medication along with dietary supplements?
A study similar to the one from the (Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) should
be conducted. However, now isolating only participants who take cardiovascular medications
and psychotherapeutic medications, respectively; along with dietary supplements. This would

allow researchers to see which of the two cases results in the most negative effect on the body
and metabolism of the medication.

References
(1) Jegtvig, S. (2014, April 29). One third of Americans mixing supplements with meds: study.
Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-0429/lifestyle/sns-rt-us-medications-supplements-20140429_1_dietary-supplements-prescriptionmedications-fish-oil
(2) Farina, PhD, RD, E. K., Austin, PhD, K. G., & Lieberman, PhD, H. R. Concomitant Dietary
Supplement and Prescription Medication Use Is Prevalent among US Adults with DoctorInformed Medical Conditions. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Retrieved May
15, 2014, from http://www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672(14)00106-3/fulltext
(3) Ekstein, D., Eyal, S., & Rasaby, S. Concomitant therapy in people with epilepsy: Potential
drugdrug interactions and patient awareness. Epilepsy & Behavior, 369-376.