Health's Tips

HEALTH TIPS

This WebPage endeavours to establish a forum to explore and understand the side effects of drugs and

problems caused by toxicity and deficiency of nutrients.

I, therefore, would welcome your comments, questions and suggestions.

Your sharing of personal experiences will help enrich our common endeavour.

Information found on this page should not be construed as professional and medical advices.

Vitamins (good sources, symptoms of deficiency and toxicity)

[ A - B1_,2_,3_,6_,12 - C - D - E - K - Folic - Choline - Pantothenic - Biotin ]

Minerals

[ Ca - Cl - Cr - Cu- F- Fe - I - K - Mg - Mn - Mo - Na - P - Se - Zn ]

Drugs

That Interact With Nutrient

[Analgesics - Antibiotics - Antacids - Anticoagulants - Diuretics -

Laxatives - Oral Contraceptives - Tranquilizers]

And Their Side-Effects

Nutrient-Nutrient Interaction

Managing Drug Side-Effects

Glossary

Reference

Vitamins

Vitamins	Functions	Good Sources	Symptoms of Deficiency	Symptoms of Toxicity
Fat-soluble vitamins
A	Necessary for normal growth, development and reproduction Important for night vision Necessary for adequate immune response Maintenance of skin cells and mucous membranes	Liver Dark green leafy (broccoli, kale, turnip greens) Carrots	Night blindness Rough, dry skin Eye disease Dry mucous membrane	Hair loss Gingivitis Brittle nails Bone and joint pain
E	Protects red blood cells from rupture (hemolysis) Prevents destruction of vitamin A in the intestine	Wheat germ, vegetable oils, legumes, whole grains, fish, green leafy vegetables	Break down of red blood cells	Decreased thyroid hormone level Modest increases in triglycerides
K	Necessary for formation of prothrombin and other factors necessary for blood clotting	Dark green leafy vegetables, cauliflower, soy bean oil, green tea	Hemorrhage	No toxicity known
D	Aids in absorption of calcium and phosphorus Regulates blood levels of calcium Promotes bone and teeth mineralization	Fish with bones	Rickets (children) Osteomalacia (adults)	Calcification of soft tissues Hypercalcemia Renal stones Appetite and weight loss Nausea and fatigue Growth failure in children
Water-soluble vitamins
B₁	Helps nervous system, heart, muscles, and tissue to function properly Promotes a good appetite and good functioning of the digestive tract	Whole grains, wheat germs, legumes	Polyneuritis Beriberi Fatigue Depression Nervous instability Spastic muscle contractions	No toxicity known
B₂	Essential for certain enzyme systems that aid in the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein, and fat	Green leafy vegetables, peanuts, whole grains	Tongue inflammation Scaling and burning skin Sensitive eyes Anglular stomatitis and cheilosis Cataracts	No toxicity known
B₃	Promotes good physical and mental health and helps maintain the health of the skin, tongue, and digestive system	Whole grain flour products Legumes Brewer's yeast	Pellagra Gastrointestinal disturbances Depressive psychosis Photosensitive dermatitis	Flushing Nausea and vomiting Abnormal glucose metabolism
B₆	Important in metabolism of protein and amino acids, carbohydrate, and fat Essential for proper growth and maintenance of body functions	Whole grains Potatoes Green vegetables Corn	Not fully established but believe to lead to oral lesions, possible depression, convulsions	Numbness of extremities Bone pain Muscle weakness
B₁₂	Aids in hemoglobin synthesis Essential for normal functioning of all cells, especially nervous system, bone marrow, and gastrointestinal tract	Organ meats Whole egg and egg yolk	Degeneration of the spinal cord Various psychiatric disorders May cause anorexia	No toxicity known
Folacin	Functions in the formation of red blood cells and in normal function of gastrointestinal tract Aids in metabolism of protein	Yeast Dark green leafy vegetables Legumes, whole grains	Impaired cell division Alterations of protein synthesis Various psychiatric disorders	Not toxicity known
Choline	A constituent of several compounds necessary for certain aspects of nerve function and lipid metabolism			No toxicity known in humans
Pantothenic acid	Essential part of complex enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism	Animal products, liver, eggs Whole grains, legumes, white potatoes, sweet potatoes	Headache Fatigue Poor muscle coordination Nausea, cramps	Possible diarrhea
Biotin	Plays a central role in fatty acid synthesis and in the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein	Soy flour brewer's yeast	Anemia, depression, insomnia, muscle pain, dermatitis	Not toxicity known
C	Helps protect the body against infections and in wound healing and recovery from operations Its important for tooth dentin, bones, cartilage, connective tissue, and blood vessels	Citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberris, cataloupe, currants, green leafy vegetables, green peppers, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes	Swollen and bleeding gums Loose teeth Bruises Scurvy	Diarrhea (very high dose) Will provide a false positive test for glucosuria Interferes with test for fecal and urinary occult blood

Index

Minerals

Minerals	Functions	Sources	Deficiency symptoms	Toxicity symptoms
Major minerals (macronutrients)
Calcium	Helps muscles to contract and relax, thereby helping to regulate heartbeat Plays a role in the normal functioning of the nervous system Aids in blood coagulation and the functioning of some enzymes Helps build strong bones and teeth May help prevent hypertension	Dark green leafy vegetables, tofu and other soy products Sardines, salmon with bones, and hard water	Poor bone growth and tooth development, leading to stunted growth and increased risk of dental caries, rickets in children Osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults Poor blood clotting Possible hypertension	Kidney stones in predisposed individuals (very high dose)
Chloride	Involved in the maintenance of fluid and acid-base balance Provides an acid medium, in the form of hydrochloric acid, for activation of gastric enzymes	Table salt Fish and vegetables	Disturbances in acid-base balance, with possible growth retardation, psychomotor defects and memory loss	No toxicity known
Magnesium	Helps build strong bones and teeth Activates many enzymes Participates in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism Helps regulate heart-beat	Raw dark green vegetables, nuts, and soybeans Whole grains and wheat bran Bananas and apricots, seafood, coffee, tea, cocoa, and hard water	Rare, but in disease states may lead to central nervous system problems (confusion, apathy, hallucinations, poor memory) and neuromuscular problems (muscle weakness, cramps, tremor, cardiac arrhythmia	Increase calcium excretion
Phosphorus	Helps build strong bones and teeth Helps in the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates (energy metabolism) Aids in maintaining the body's acid-base balance	Eggs, meats, legumes, whole grains	Rare, but with malabsorption can cause anorexia, weakness, stiff joints, and fragile bones	Hypocalcemic tetany (muscle spasms)
Potassium	Plays a key role in fluid and acid-base balance Tranmits nerve impulses and helps control muscle contractions and promotes regular heart-beat	Apricots, bananas, oranages, grapefruits, raisins, green beans, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, peanuts butter, legumes, tea, and cocoa	May cause impaired growth, hypertension, bone fragility, central nervous system changes, renal hypertrophy, diminished heart rate, and death	Cardiac function disturbances
Sodium	Maintenance of acid-base balance Transmits nerve impulses and helps control muscle contractions	Salt		May cause hypertension, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases and renal disease Can gastric irritation
Trace Minerals (micronutrients)
Chromium	Enhances the removal of glucose from the blood	Whole grains, legumes, liver	Weight loss, abnormalities of the central nervous system Possible aggravation of diabetes mellitus	Liver damage and lung cancer
Cobalt	Essential component of vitamin B12	Figs, cabbage, beet greens, spinach, lettuce, watercress	Pernicious anemia	Hyperplasia of bone marrow Increase blood volume
Copper	Aids in production and survival of red blood cells Part of many enzymes involved in respiration Plays a role in normal lipid metabolism	Shellfish (oysters), liver, nuts, and seeds, raisins, whole grains, chocolate, and legumes	Anemia, central nervous system problems Bone fragility Impaired immune response May be factor in failure to thrive in premature infants	Neuron and liver cell damage (Wilson's disease)
Fluorine	Helps the formation of solid bones and teeth, thereby reduction incidence of dental caries May help prevent osteoporosis	Fish, tea, gelatin	Increased susceptibility to dental caries	Fluorosis and mottling of teeth
Iodine	Helps regulate energy metabolism as part of thyroid hormones Essential for normal cell functioning, helping to keep skin, hair, and nails healthy	Iodized salt, also found in saltwater fish, seaweed products, vegetables grown in iodine-rich soils	Goiter, cretinism in infants born to iodine deficient mothers, with accompanying mental retardation and diffuse central nervous system abnormalities	Little toxic effect in individuals with normal thyroid gland functioning Goiter may also occur in toxic states
Iron	Essential to the formation of hemoglobin, which is important for tissue respiration and ultimately growth and development Part of several enzymes and proteins in the body	Heme: organ meats (lever, red meats) Nonheme sources: iron fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains, blackstrap molasses, dried fruit	Iron deficiency anemia Possible alterations that impair behavior	Cardiomyopathy Idiopathic hemochomatosis, which can lead to cirrhosis
Manganese	Needed for normal bone structure, reproduction, normal functioning of cells and the central nervous system A component of some enzymes	Nuts, whole grains, vegetables and fruits, coffee, tea, cocoa, and egg yolks	None observed in humans
Molybdenu-m	Important for normal cell function	Legumes, whole grains, dark green vegetables	Vomiting, fast breathing, tachycardia, coma	No toxicity known
Selenium	Acts as an antioxidant with vitamin E to protect the cell from oxygen	Sea-food, liver and other meats, and garlic	Keshan's disease	Physical defects of the fingernails and toenails and hair loss Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, irritability
Zinc	Plays a role in protein synthesis Essential for normal growth and sexual development, wound healing, immune function, cell division and differentiation, and smell acuity	Whole grains, wheat germ, crabmeat, oyster, liver and other meats, brewer's yeast	Depressed immune function, poor growth, dwarfism, impaired skeletal growth and delayed sexual maturation, acrodermatitis	Severe anemia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, malaise, fatigue Impaired immunity Renal damage

Index

Nutrient-Nutrient interactions

Nutrient	Inhibiting Nutrient	Enhancing Nutrient
Vitamins
Vitamin A (carotene)	Excess vitamin E Deficiency of protein, iron, and Zinc	Dietary fat
Vitamin D		Dietary fat
Vitamin E		Dietary fat
Vitamin K	Excess vitamin E	Dietary fat
Vitamin B₁	Tannins (as found in coffee)
Vitamin B₂	Excess vitamin B₁
Vitamin B₃	Deficiency of vitamin B₆
Vitamin B₆	Excess choline and leucine	Deficiency of vitamin C
Vitamin B₁₂	Excess vitamin C Deficiency of vitamin B₆
Vitamin C	Deficiency of vitamins B₆
Choline	Excess inositol
Folacin	Thiamine hastens decompositions in supplements
Minerals
Calcium	Excess sodium, protein, phosphorus, oxalates	Vitamin D, lactose, and certain amino acids
Phosphorus	Excess iron
Magnesium	Excess sodium, calcium, vitamin D, phosphate, protein, and alcohol
Iron	Excess manganese	Vitamin C, copper, cobalt
Zinc	Excess iron, copper, tin, folic acid, tannins, and possibly calcium	Possible fluoride role
Copper	Excess zinc, molybdenum, and vitamin C	Estrogen increase copper serum levels
Molybdenum	Excess sulfur

Index

Drug-Nutrient Interactions

Drugs	Vitamins/Minerals Depleted	Suggested Foods to Eat	Foods to Avoid
Analgesics
Aspirin	Folic acid Iron Vitamin C	Yeast, wheat, germs, whole grains, corn, legumes, nuts, lean pork, leafy vegetables Liver, lentils, lean roast beef, nuts, molasses, apricots, dark green leafy vegetable Black currants, broccoli, brussels sprouts, raw green cabbage, cauliflower	Crackers, jellies, syrups, other processed high carbohydrate foods
Antacids
Aluminum Hydroxide (Amphojel)	Phosphorus, Thiamine	Fish, nuts, legumes,	Alcoholic beverages
Bicarbonate (Tums)	Iron, Thiamin	Same as Analgesics	Alcoholic beverages
Antibiotics
Chloromycetin	Vit B₁₂ Iron	Liver, kidney, fish Liver, lentils, lean roast beef, nuts, molasses, apricots, dark green leafy vegetable
Neomycins	Vitamin B₁₂ Vitamin A & D, Iron	Liver, kidney, fish Fish-liver oils, leafy vegetables, peaches, mangos, papayas	Alcoholic beverages
Pentam 300, Nebupent	Folic acid
Daraprim	Folic acid
Trimpex, Proloprim	Folic acid
Penicillins	Iron, Potassium	Same as Analgesics; banana, citrus, and other high-potassium foods	Note: Avoid foods high in iron for at least 2 hrs after taking any antibiotic
Tetracyclines	Vitamin C & B	Same as Analgesics	Do not take with food or any diary products
Anticoagulants Drugs Large dose of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - 3 g or more - may inhibit absorption of warfarin. That in turn can reduce the drug's anticoagulant effect Large dose of vitamin E - 1200 IU a day - may increase warfarin's anticoagulant effects and risk of bleeding
Coumadin, Dicumarol, Panwarfin, Sofarin)	Vitamin K	Green leafy vegetables or other foods rich in vitamin K	Alcoholic beverages, caffeine, fried or boiled onions, leafy green vegetables, liver

Antineoplastic (Platinol)	Mg	Green vegetables, avocados, bananas, blackstrap molasses, whole unprocessed grains, legumes, peanut butter, nuts, seeds

Anticonvulsants (Dilantin, Myidone, Mysoline)	Folic acid Vitamin D	Yeast, wheat, germs, whole grains, corn, legumes, nuts, lean pork, leafy vegetables

Antipsycholics (Thoradol, Thorprom, Thorazine, Permitil, Prolixin, mellari	Vitamin B₂	Green leafy vegetables

Cholesterol-lowering agents (Questran and Colestid)	Beta carotene (a vitamin A presursor) Iron	Pumpkins, winter squash, carrots, sweet red peppers, apricots, mangoes, papayas, and other bright yellow/orange/red fruits and vegetables

Cephalosporins (Mandol, Cefotan, Cefobid and Moxam)	Vitamin K	Green leafy vegetables

Antihypertensive Drugs	Vitamin K	Leafy vegetables
Diuretics
Potassium-wasting	Potassium	Apricots, molasses, dates, bananas, nuts, bamboo shoots, prunes, mushrooms, grapefruit, oranges	Alcoholic beverages
Lasix	B₁	Peas, beans, both fresh and dried, whole grains and breads
Triamterene (potassium-sparing)	Folic acid	Same as analgesics	Foods in high in potassium

Gantrisin (anti-infective)	Folic acid, vitamin K, other B vitamins	Same as analgesics	Alcoholic beverages
Laxatives
Mineral oil	Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin K Calcium	Same as antibiotics Fish-liver oils, salmon, sardines See antihypertensive Drugs Leafy green vegetables, Brazil nuts, legumes, clams, oysters, tofu, whole grains, water	Fried greasy foods, fatty food
Phenolphthalein	Phosphorus, vitamins A, D, and K	Same as Antacids and laxatives
Diotctyl sodium Sulfosuccinate (stool softener)	Vitamin A	Same as Antacids and laxatives
Bisacodyl	Potassium	Same as diuretics	Fried, greasy food, fatty foods, do not take with milk and milk products
Levodopa	Vitamin C and B₁₂	Same as most foods under Analgesics	Coffee, dry skim milk, beans, oatmeal, wheat germ, pork, tuna, sweet potatoes, peas, bacon, avocado, cheese, wine
Oral Contraceptives Drugs
Estrogen-containing	Thiamine, folic acid, riboflavin Vitamin B₆ Vitamin B₁₂	See Analgesics (folic acid) Wheat germ, corn, soybeans, whole grains, peanuts See Antibiotics, Analgesics
Tranquilizers
Barbiturates	Folic acid	See Analgesics	Alcoholic beverages

Index

Common Drugs and Their Side-Effects

Drugs	Common uses	Side Effects
Advil	Reduce fever and some types of pain with inflammation (menstrual pain)	Serious: gastrointestinal bleeding (dark or bloody vomit or stools, prolonged bleeding from a cut, wheezing, difficulty breathing, reddened burn like rash, high blood pressure (headache, blurred vision), decrease urination, yellow-tinged skin and eyes Common: headache, drowsiness, dizziness, ringing in ears, stomach distress
Aspirin	Mild pain or fever, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other inflammatory conditions Also prescribe it to lessen the chance of heart attack, stroke, or other problems that may occur when blood clots block a blood vessel	Serious: Reye's syndrome (vomiting, extreme fatigue, agitation, confusion), allergic reaction (trouble breathing, wheezing; flushing, redness, or other changes in skin color; hives; itching; swelling or eyelids, face, or lips) Common: ringing in ears, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, rash
Benylin DM	Relieve a dry cough	Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain
Claritin	Seasonal allergy syndrome called hay fever	Serious: seizures, irregular heartbeat, severe allergic reaction (face and throat swelling, difficulty breathing), liver problems (nausea, vomiting, yellow-tinged skin and eyes) Common: heartburn, abdominal discomfort Tip: to relieve dry mouth and skin, use a cool-mist humidifier
Clearasil	Acne	Stinging on application, warmth, painful irritation, itching, pimples, rash, bleaching of hair or clothing
Cogentin	Parkinson's disease Drug-induced involuntary movement disorders	Serious: heart palpitations, rapid or slow heartbeat Common: constipation Tip: to relieve constipation, drink more fluids and eat high-fiber foods
Cold remedies	Fever, muscle soreness, and headaches Runny nose and water eyes Reduce stuffiness	Serious: palpitations (fluttering in chest), fast heart rate, severe allergic reaction (swollen face and throat, difficulty breathing) Common: drowsiness, excitement, dry mouth and skin, headache, dizziness, nausea
Demerol	Moderate to severe pain	Serious: seizures, slow or troubled breathing, persistent nausea or vomiting, low blood pressure (weakness, dizziness), irregular heartbeat Common: light-headedness, sweating, sleepiness or drowsiness, clouded senses, unreasonable feeling of well-being, nausea, vomiting, constipation, inability to urinate, muscle twitching, unreasonable excitement, tremor, dizziness, diarrhea, hallucinations, vision difficulties, dry mouth, flushing of face, itching, rash
Dexedrine	Treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)	Restlessness, sleeplessness, racing or pounding heartbeat
Imodium	Acute, nonspecific diarrhea and for chronic diarrhea	Constipation, drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, rash; abdominal pain, swelling or discomfort

Index

Managing Drug Side Effects

Glossary

Acrodermatitis
Anemia	A reduction in hemoglobin in red blood cells with consequent deficiency of oxygen in the blood, leading to weakness and pallor
Anglular stomatitis	Pallor and maceration of the mucosa in the angles of the mouth
Anorexia	Loss of appetite
Ataxia	Loss of coordination of muscles, especially in the extremities
Beck disease
Beriberi	A disease of the peripheral nerves caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1, leading to paralysis and congestive heart failure
Blood clotting	Coagulation of blood
Cardiomyopathy	Any disease of the myocardium (muscle of the heart)
Cataracts	An abnormality of the eyes characterized by opacity of the lens
Cheilosis	Any abnormal condition of the lips
Cirrhosis	A chronic disease of the liver in which fibrous tissues invades and replicate normal tissues, disrupting important function, as digestion and detoxification
Convulsions	Contortion of the body caused by violent involuntary muscular contraction
Cretinism	A congenital deficiency of thyroid secretion, resulting in stunted growth, deformity, and mental retardation
Dermatitis	Inflammation of skin
Fluorosis	An abnormal condition caused by excessive intake of fluorides, characterized in children by discolouration and pitting of the teeth and in adults by pathological bone changes
Gingivitis	Inflammation of gums
Glucosuria	Excretion of glucose in the urine, as in diabetes
Goiter	Enlargement of the thyroid gland on the front and sides of the neck
Hemochomatosis	A disorder of iron metabolism manifested by bronzed skin due to excessive iron absorption, leading to joint pain, diabetes, and liver damage if iron concentration is not reduced
Hemoglobin	Conjugated protein in red blood cells, comprising globin and iron-containing heme that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body
Hemorrhage	Profuse discharge of blood
Hypercalcemia	Abnormally large amount of calcium in the blood
Hyperplasia	Abnormal multiplication of cells
Insomnia	Difficulty in falling or staying asleep when sleep should normally occur
Keshan's disease	Childhood cardiomyopathy associated with selenium deficiency
Malaise	A vague feeling of discomfort or unease without signs of a particular illness or disorder
Osteoarthritis (OA)	Arthritis marked by chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling. Also called degenerative joint disease
Osteomalacia	A condition characterized by softening of the bones with resultant pain, weakness, and bone fragility
Parkinson's disease	A neurologic disease believed to be caused by deterioration of the brain cells that produce dopamine, occurring primarily after the age of 60, and characterized by tremors, especially of the fingers and hands, muscle rigidity, and a shuffling gait
Pellagra	A disease caused by a deficiency of nicotinic acid in the diet, characterized by skin changes, severe nerve dysfunction, mental symptoms, and diarrhea
Pernicious anemia	A severe anemia associated with inadequate intake or absorption of vitamin B₁₂, characterized by defective production of red blood cells
Polyneuritis	Inflammatory disease of peripheral nerves
Renal hypertrophy	Enlargement of kidney
Reye's syndrome	A rare disorder occurring primarily in children after a viral illness and associated with aspirin usage, characterized by vomiting, swelling of the brain, and liver dysfunction
Rickets	A childhood disease in which the bones soften from a deficiency in vitamin D
Scurvy	A disease marked by swollen and bleeding gums, livid spots on the skin, and prostration, caused by a lack of vitamin C
Tachycardia	Excessively rapid heartbeat, usu. more than 100 beats per minute
Wilson's disease	A rare hereditary disease marked by copper accumulation in the brain and liver, leading to neurological damage and kidney malfunction

References:

Karalliedde, Lakshman. "Handbook of Drug Interaction." Oxford University Press Inc.: Georgina Bentliff, 1998.

Anderson, Jean. "Nutrition Bibble." William Morrow and Company Inc.: Jean Anderson and Barbara Deskins, 1995.

Escott-Stump, Sylvia. " Nutrition and Diagnosis-Related Care." Lea & Febiger: Escott-Stump, Sylvia, 1985.

Brass, Lawrence. " Everything You Need to Know About Drugs." Springhouse Corporation, 1997

Drummond, Karen. " Diet Therapy." Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1992

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