Supplements are often seen as a simple, effective way to boost your health. And while this is true in many cases, it’s important to remember that no supplement is a miracle cure—and a lot of them come with hidden risks. It’s especially vital to be careful with supplements when you’re taking multiple ones at a time. While some options are perfectly safe on their own, many combinations can be particularly dangerous to your health, especially when it comes to your kidneys.
In addition to taking supplements in high doses, combining the wrong ones can pose a serious risk to your body. To highlight one dangerous combo in particular, we checked in with pain management doctor Sean Ormond. He told us that taking high doses of Vitamins K and E together could result in risks like blood clots and kidney issues. Learn more about the risk of this duo below.
Risks of Combining Vitamin E & Vitamin K
On their own, Vitamin E and Vitamin K supplements can be a great addition to your health regimen, as both of these vitamins are crucial to your wellbeing. While Vitamin K promotes strong bones and plays a part in blood clotting to reduce bleeding, Vitamin E is integral to brain health, reproductive health, and even vision. Of course, the best option is to get these nutrients straight from your diet (carrots, anyone?), but supplementation can be a good idea if you're not getting enough vitamin-rich foods. However, Dr. Ormand notes, the issue arises when you're taking high doses of Vitamin E and Vitamin K together.
"Vitamin E and vitamin K are both fat-soluble vitamins that can interact with each other," he tells us. "Taking high doses of both vitamins together can increase the risk of blood clots." That's certainly not good.
"Given both nutrients' critical involvement in coagulation, in extreme cases, this interaction can result in abnormal blood clotting," one study notes.
On top of this, fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D can be harmful to your liver and kidneys. Nutritionist Jesse Feder warns, "While taken in normal amounts, vitamins A, D, E, and K are harmless. But certain supplements may contain high amounts of them which can be damaging to your liver and kidneys." The danger here is that fat-soluble vitamins cannot be excreted through urine. This can ultimately cause a build-up of vitamins in your kidney and liver, especially when take in high doses and/or combined.
Bottom line
At the end of the day, it's always important to be mindful of what you're putting into your body—and that includes supplements. Although they can sometimes be a trustworthy solution for a number of health needs, you should always proceed with caution when adding a new supplement to your routine. It's crucial to stick to recommended doses and do your research on potential interactions with any other supplement or medication you may be taken.
Stay safe!
