Patient told to stop supplements
I almost had to postpone a surgery because of the dietary supplements
I was taking — turmeric and garlic. I was told I needed to be off of them for at least two weeks prior to surgery; luckily, my interview with the doctors took place in time — I was pleased they asked. My question is: What happens in the case of emergency surgery? Is it unsafe for anyone to use such supplements if they might cause dire consequences in an emergency?
— D.A., Charlotte,
North Carolina
DEAR DR. BLONZ >>
DEAR D.A. >> The fact that yours was a scheduled surgery meant that the surgical team had the luxury of advising you to refrain from taking any substance that might complicate the procedure. In the case of emergency surgery, the team would be on the alert for any adverse reactions. Your surgical team would monitor your progress during the procedure to make sure that everything proceeds on track. The takeaway is that you should always have a complete list of all your medications and dietary supplements with you, and record it online as part of your medical information. Several systems used by health care organizations, such as MyChart, offer online medical records storage. Your pharmacy may also be able to store it, and can identify potential interactions between your supplements and prescribed medications.
DEAR DR. BLONZ >> I have read how shark cartilage can be effective against arthritis, but my doctor has never heard of this. Are you aware of any evidence that this works?
— S.F., Anderson,
South Carolina
DEAR S.F. >> More than 20 years ago, in an initial promotion for shark cartilage, statements began to surface in dietary-supplement circles that sharks never got cancer. Without evidence, claims spewed forth from some companies that there must be some sort of anticancer compound in a shark's body, and by using their shark cartilage product as a dietary supplement, you could gain this protection for yourself. Since then, certain cancers have been identified in sharks, but even more on point, when put to the test there was no support for using shark cartilage as an anticancer agent. Consumer protection actions by the Federal Trade Commission squelched two such companies with a $1 million judgment.
Additional claims hit the market around that time that shark cartilage could do wonders against arthritis. This stemmed from the fact that compounds in shark cartilage can inhibit the creation of new blood vessels, referred to as angiogenesis. This process is thought to play a role in the inflammation associated with arthritis. Again, research studies failed to affirm the connection. The irony is despite the lack of objective evidence, these products remain available in the supplement marketplace.