Best Supplements for Nutrient-Depleting Drugs

You pop ibuprofen after every run, rely on antacids to digest heavy meals, or perhaps you've been on birth control pills for years. All of these medications seem to clearly benefit your lifestyle, and yet they may be a hidden negative when it comes to your health.

"Medications can inhibit the absorption, synthesis and storage of nutrients in a person's body," says Ross Pelton, co-author of the book The Nutritional Cost of Drugs (Morton Publishing, 2004) and a pharmacist and certified clinical nutritionist specializing in holistic health. "When a person takes a drug, a bad reaction to that drug usually happens quite quickly," says Pelton. "But these nutrient deficiencies happen slowly over time." What's more, the depletion may be compounded when you take multiple drugs, so the number and amount of nutrients that need to be replaced may be eye-opening.

The key is to know which drugs affect which nutrients and how to fortify what you've lost. This usually means taking supplements. "Drugs are powerful substances that generally work by blocking one specific pathway in the body," says Robert Rountree, M.D., co-author of The Clinical Natural Medicine Handbook (Mary Ann Lieber, 2008). "The chance of causing an unexpected side effect is significant. If you are taking something that powerful, then you need to take a dietary supplement to replace depleted nutrients or protect against organ damage."

Pelton agrees. "Maybe some people could make up the nutrition by just eating whole foods, but most people can't. My best advice on how to avoid these drug-induced depletions is to take a high-potency multivitamin and multimineral supplement." Even then, says Pelton, some nutrients need to be taken individually, such as coenzyme Q10, (CoQ10), the hormone melatonin and and the amino acid tyrosine.

We've outlined 13 categories of drugs, the nutrients they can deplete, and the health effects they may have on your body over time. As always, check with your doctor or health-care provider before taking any new medications, herbs or supplements. For more information on specific nutrients, consult the Nutrient Library.

1. Oral contraceptives

Taking oral contraceptives, especially over a series of years, can have a significant effect on a woman's ability to absorb and store nutrients. "There's an extensive list of nutrients depleted by oral contraceptives," says Pelton. "This is a huge issue for women's health. Over time, a woman developing depletions is not likely to connect the dots and realize that her health problems are due to the oral contraceptives."

Studies document that birth control pills deplete vitamins B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, B-12, folic acid, vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, zinc, tyrosine and CoQ10. From this long list may come a series of side effects that are difficult to link directly to the contraceptives. Pelton says:

• Folic acid depletion increases risks for birth defects, cervical dysplasia and the need for a hysterectomy. It can also increase the risks of developing anemia, depression, and breast and colon cancers.
• Vitamins B-6, B-12 and folic acid are required to metabolize homocysteine; a high homocysteine level is one of the greatest risks for heart disease.
• Vitamin C, selenium and zinc are needed for a healthy immune system.
• Magnesium depletion increases the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and osteoporosis.
• Diminished levels of vitamin B-6 and tyrosine increase the likelihood of depression.
• CoQ10 depletion increases the risks of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, low energy and accelerated aging.
• Zinc depletion increases problems with skin, hair and nails, and is linked with diminished appetite, sex drive, and senses of taste and smell and a weakened immune system.

Pelton recommends women who take contraceptives eat fresh, organic leafy-green veggies to ensure maximum nutrition; whole grains; healthy proteins such as fish and lean meats; and take fish oils for omega-3 fatty acids. Along with eating well, he says a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement is essential.