When Supplements Do More Harm Than Good | Nutritionist Explains | Myprotein

Can supplements actually do more harm than good? Taking a nutrient out of food and consuming it in a large, concentrated dose doesn't necessarily have the same effect as getting that nutrient naturally through your diet. In this video, we look at the fascinating example of beta-carotene, a compound found naturally in foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes, and research that produced an unexpected result when it was given as a high-dose supplement. Key Facts: Beta-carotene is an orange pigment found naturally in foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes. Your body can convert beta-carotene into vitamin A. Observational research found that people who consumed more beta-carotene-rich foods had lower rates of lung cancer. Researchers subsequently tested high-dose beta-carotene supplements in thousands of people, particularly smokers and former smokers who were at higher risk of lung cancer. Instead of reducing risk, the supplement groups experienced increased lung cancer rates and higher mortality. The supplement doses were around 20–30mg per day, producing beta-carotene levels much higher than you'd normally achieve by eating vegetables. This doesn't mean beta-carotene-rich foods such as carrots cause cancer. The important distinction is between normal dietary exposure and consuming an isolated compound at a much higher dose. FAQ: Q: Can supplements be harmful? A: Yes. The effect of a nutrient can depend on the dose, form, and circumstances in which it's consumed. More of a nutrient isn't automatically better. Q: Does beta-carotene cause cancer? A: The issue discussed here relates specifically to high-dose beta-carotene supplementation in high-risk groups, particularly smokers and former smokers. It doesn't mean eating beta-carotene-rich vegetables causes cancer. Q: Why was beta-carotene thought to prevent lung cancer? A: Observational evidence found lower rates of lung cancer among people who consumed more beta-carotene-rich foods, leading researchers to investigate whether isolated beta-carotene supplements could reproduce that association. Q: Why aren't supplements always the same as getting nutrients from food? A: Supplements can provide an isolated nutrient at concentrations considerably higher than you'd normally consume through food. At sufficiently high doses, a compound can behave differently in the body. Q: Does this mean supplements are bad? A: No. Supplements can be extremely useful when they're needed. The lesson is that isolating a nutrient and dramatically increasing the dose doesn't necessarily reproduce the benefits associated with foods containing that nutrient. #myprotein #wheyprotein #protein #nutrition ********************************* Myprotein is Rated Excellent on Trustpilot 🔔 Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MyproteinUK?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Download the Myprotein app: https://myprotein.onelink.me/IYeO/o2erh9hb The UK & Europe's Number 1 Online Sports Nutrition Brand, Myprotein.