Some supplements are beneficial, but do research
Instead of waiting to fight illnesses after getting sick, Pam Maltinsky tries to head them off before she catches them.
Mal tin sky ,70, of the University District, takes supplements to boost her immune system. It's a method Maltinsky swears by and one she said has become even more important as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
Maltinsky takes a variety of supplements, including an elderberry syrup. Research has shown that elder berry may help decrease inflammation and can help ease cold symptoms.
“I've always leaned toward holistic medicine,” Maltinsky said. “I started reading about it and decided there's nothing much in there that could hurt me.”
It's true that certain vitamins and supplements can benefit a person' s immune system. But, consumers need to make sure they know what they're buying, said Dr. Terri Wilkerson Riddiford, a primary care doctor at Mount Carmel Medical Group in Dublin, Ohio.
Some of the most advertised products aren't necessarily the best ones to use, Wilkerson Riddiford said.
Products likeZic am and Emergen-C are some of the most well - known, t hough she said lesser known ones may actually be better.
Supplements face less scrutiny than drugs as they aren't policed by the Food and Drug Administration. For that reason, Wilkerson Riddiford said consumers may find that some may have more fillers or preservatives than others.
“People are at a heightened level of anxiety because of COVID,” she said. “But, you should be careful what you spend your money on.”
Certain foods also may help prevent illness, Wilkerson Rid di ford said. Pumpkin seeds, for instance, have a high amount of zinc, which is known to help boost the immune system, she said.
The most beneficial thing people can do to prevent falling ill is to wash their hands, get plenty of sleep and abide by COVID-19 recommendations such as wearing mask sin public and keeping a safe distance, said Dr. Seuli Brill, a pediatrician and internal medicine doctor at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
While Br ill said there' s some benefit to taking vitamins and supplements, they also can cause problems.
St. John's Wort, which has been used to treat a variety of conditions including poor sleep or appetite, can interfere with antidepressants, Brill said. Another supplement called Ginkgo biloba, which is used sometimes used by people with dizzi - ness or memory loss, can cause an upset stomach or skin irritation.
Although supplements aren't drugs, patients should treat them similarly, Br ill said. Anyone looking to try a new vitamin or supplement for any reason should first talk to their doctor, Brill said.
Brill said she's had patients who all of a sudden start having some unusual health problems.
“There's absolutely danger in that,” Brill said. “I've definitely had patients with lab abnormalities, liver enzymes and things being off, and it turns out that patient is taking a supplement.”
Mal tin sky said she' s not one to try something new on a whim that she heard about or saw advertised.
“I will research it tremendous ly ,” Malt in sky said of anything new she's considering. “I'm not going to try just anything that I heard about through the grapevine. I'm very, very careful about that.”