New Delhi: Dr Tejal Lathia, a consulting endocrinologist at the Mumbai-based Apollo and Fortis Hospitals, said she was recently left wondering why a Type 2 diabetes mellitus patient had vitamin D toxicity.
Further investigation revealed the culprits — a fear of contracting Covid-19 and a social media barrage on the unproven claim that vitamin D pills boost immunity.
“The patient had seen messages on social media on how vitamin D may help in building immunity against Covid-19. But instead of the recommended dose of one pill a week, she consumed one a day,” Dr Lathia told ThePrint.
High vitamin D levels can spike blood and urine calcium levels which, in turn, can cause nausea, vomiting, dehydration, dizziness, confusion, and drowsiness among other changes.
“Vitamin D in blood levels greater than 150 ng/ml can cause all these symptoms reflecting toxicity. My patient had a level of 348 ng/ml but luckily did not suffer any consequences,” she said.
The Mumbai doctor added that almost all of her patients are taking immunity boosters in one form or another. “I have been hearing about the immunity boosting measures from all my patients,” she said. “The most-used products are homemade kadhas, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin D and medicines like the homeopathic Arsenicum album.”
And Dr Lathia isn’t alone.
Doctors across the country are fighting new-age medical emergencies that involve the over-consumption of turmeric, fenugreek seeds, aloe vera juice, Vitamin D pills — all driven by unproven social media messages that they boost immunity against Covid-19.
“My colleagues and I are seeing a lot of patients who are self-medicating with so-called immune boosting agents,” said Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, a specialist in hepatology and liver transplant medicine at the Cochin Gastroenterology Group in Kerala.
“The major factor for this sudden interest among patients is the fear of contracting Covid-19, especially those who are immune compromised,” Philips said. “The relentless social media posts, promotion by the government on immunity boosting practices using herbs is leading consumers to adopt such unhealthy practices. In turn, quacks are also cashing in on the opportunity.”
Medical practitioners pointed towards the central government advice of using alternative medicine systems such as homoeopathy and ayurveda to ward off the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly asked people to follow an advisory issued by the Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy), which suggests a range of home remedies to boost immunity, including consumption of turmeric, honey, ginger and some concoctions.
The central government has also recommended a course of ‘Arsenicum album 30’ — a homeopathic medicine.
“While using these products in moderation or recommended quantity may not cause any harm, people have started consuming these products without knowing their proper dosage, way of preparation and consumption and their interaction with their ongoing medications. The trend is dangerous,” said Dr Manoj Goel, director, pulmonology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.
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Side-effects of over consuming natural products
Doctors are seeing a spike in the number of patients complaining of side-effects that are then traced back to their diets.
Dr Philips said he has seen “patients who have consumed decoctions of Fenugreek (methi seeds) and landed in trouble”. According to the Kerala-based doctor, fenugreek seeds in large doses lead to thinning of blood and “can dangerously cause bleeding events in patients with or without liver disease”.
He cited the example of a patient who took to a fenugreek decoction to boost immunity. “After use of fenugreek decoction for a whole week (two glasses of fenugreek boiled water a day), his test ratio (to check for blood thinning) was above 3 (which normally is usually 1 or less),” Dr Philips said. “After stopping Fenugreek decoction, the test value was restored to normal levels but he had a few bleeding spots on the skin.”
“Another big issue I have faced is high consumption of special juice diets, especially aloe vera juice which is very dangerous. It induces liver injury,” Dr Philips added.
Dr M. Shafi Kuchay, senior consultant, endocrinology and diabetes at Medanta Hospital in Delhi, tweeted that he had seen a patient who had consumed excessive amounts of turmeric to ward off Covid-19.
“Yesterday, (I) saw a patient for diabetes. Bilirubin was normal. He had yellow eyes but no symptoms of any liver disease. Reason: He had consumed 2 tablespoons of turmeric with water, three times per day, for the last two-three months. This was for prevention of Covid19.”
Yesterday saw a patient for diabetes. He had yellow eyes but no symptoms of any liver disease. Bilirubin was normal. Reason: He had consumed 2 tablespoons of turmeric with water, three times per day, for last 2-3 months. This was for prevention of #COVID-19. ??
— M Shafi Kuchay (@drshafikuchay) September 2, 2020
“We have seen several patients taking mostly local herbal-based preparations for boosting immunity,” he told ThePrint.
According to Dr Gaurav Jain, consultant, internal medicine, at the Delhi-based Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, four to five patients a day are reporting side effects after consuming “immunity boosters”.
“It is unfortunate to see people putting themselves at the other health risks in the name of consuming immunity boosters,” Dr Jain said. “Overconsumption of products such as ashwagandha, kaadha (concoctions) and chyawanprash among others is leading to digestion problems and other health issues.”
Survey finds high sale of immunity boosters
Numbers also bear out the trend of high consumption of products labelled as immunity boosters.
According to a survey by Pronto Consult, a health research firm, immunity boosters are now an increasing trend across categories not only in medicines, but also in food-related products.
“Out of every 100 medicine bills, 92 were for immunity-boosting products,” the survey found, adding “products containing honey, chyawanprash, ginger, moringa oleifera, probiotics, green tea, amla (gooseberry), tulsi (basil), haldi (turmeric), lemongrass, karela (bitter gourd), jamun (berry), saffron seen a trend upwards, including detox brands.”
Medical practitioners, however, warn that they should be consulted for proper dosage of immunity boosting products, especially among those suffering from medical conditions.
“Don’t consume any immunity booster without proper consultation, especially if one is already suffering from another disease. Consult your concerned specialist first,” Dr Jain advised.
The doctors say that the risk and benefits of supplements has been assessed on a case-to-case basis.
“It is my practice to assess risk versus benefit. These boosters (such as vitamin C or D or Zinc) may not cause any harm if taken in appropriate doses,” Dr Lathia said. “I usually advise simple steam inhalation or gargles because most people want to do something to satisfy their fear of catching Covid-19.”
“I strongly discourage the use of unknown store-bought products without appropriate labelling or substances that can cause harm,” she said while adding that “weight management, good control of blood sugars and blood pressure with appropriate medications, use of mask and hand washing are the best immunity measures.”
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We know that turmeric, fenugreek etc have compounds with medicinal effects just like Metformin or spasmoproxyvon has. But we do not take the latter without prescription and take the former without consulting anyone. It is not the fault of the Ayurvedic Physicians that this happens, it is because people have this belief that what is natural or from a plant is totally harmless. Hemlock and poison ivy as well as snake venom are also natural.
There is also the problem of cross reactions between medicines and supplements and between supplements.
It is in the West that this Golden milk craze started. But we must remember that we do not have to drink this for our daily dose of turmeric. Turmeric pepper combo is already there in most of our curries.
Even leafy greens consumed in excess has the possibility,it’s of leading to kidney stones in people.
Modern medicine also has side effects.
Bloody doctors making money by misguiding
Vitamin D has definite role in optimum immune activity. There are dozens of studies from around the world to prove it.
The need of the hour is to educate people to take only proven supplements at safe levels, rather than blaming the habit of taking supplements, which can cause more damage if people go into deficiencies!
Dr Hanish Baby, MD
Most people don’t need supplements.
Unless you are poor, old, sick and there are specific reasons to suspect a deficiency, there is no reason to take supplements.
If you never leave the house, ok maybe a little vitamin D, about 1000 IU is fine. This is medical advise.
If you spend 15 min in the sun on average, you should be getting enough Vitamin D. And it does not need to be every day.
5000 IU Vitamin D can get toxic over time because it is fat soluble and accumulates. This is unlike Vitamin C or B complex where excess go out in urine.
Most importantly, patients should not choose to take supplements without medical advise. A cheap multivitamin tablet may be ok since it is balanced and contains just enough vitamins. But patients in the article are overdosing.
Just being a doctor is not enough. You should also have awareness of research. The doctors in the article seem smarter than you.
Every person as per Ayurveda has a prakriti like vaata, pitta and karta. Every herb is also known for some properties which may and may not suite to person of a specific prakirti if taken blindly leading to some side effects or damages in body. I myself have injured my lever by taking kadhhas and coronill for one week as self medication during this covid crisis at ho.e and in office. The daalchini which is 10% by part in ayush kadha is known for all good properties and benefits, but some chemical in it also known to damage the liver of some persons with specific Ayurveda prakirti. Another point is what is the guarantee the the herb we are taking is adulterated or toxic while preparing with following any process. Can we sure the turmeric we are taking for all good causes is free from all toxins and not adulterated.
Ayurveda and Prakriti is old bullshit. They just ask some stupid questions and assign a prakriti.
It is all nonsense. Its just an excuse to explain why the useless herb is not working.
A lot of Ayurvedic drugs have dangerous metals or steroids in them. Government does not care. For them Ayurveda is good for their politics.
This means people need proper guidelines till then will do their best way as information available in different media
To overcome crisis let an authoritative board declare what is right with respect to Allopathic, Ayurvedic, Homeo etc., we shall follow till real vaccine arrives
Hahahha people eat every food which according to your tradition and health conditions. You cant blame everyone where its ayurvedha homeopathy alopathay. Basic thing body needs all types of vitamins and nutrition. If u eat more or less you get something problem. So balance your food. Thats all we can say..
Vitamin D’s role in boosting immunity is a very well documented fact and not some social media nonsense. Pls do some homework specially regards to medical science scientific publications.
Sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, we all know despite the fact that there is no medicine these doctors are minting money. They are afraid of loosing handsome perks from pharma’s.
Right:))
What minting money. Most doctors are being truthful and are saying there are no medicines.
This is not like homeopathy and ayurveda quacks who are minting money with nonsense.
All the doctors are telling you is to maintain social distancing and wear a mask. That does not profit them in any way.
“Too much of anything is too bad”. For instance, too much news can cause paranoia and other delusions.