Doctor: The #1 mistake many people make when taking vitamins

In fact, skipping this step is the number one mistake many people make when taking vitamins. Many people start taking them without consulting their doctor, unaware of the potential risks. Consulting your doctor first can prevent many potential problems before they arise.

Here's why this matters.

Vitamins or supplements can be beneficial, but they can also pose health risks.

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Vitamins may interact with medications or personal health conditions

Everyone is different, and we all have our own health histories. There is a balance to be struck when it comes to taking anything, including vitamins. Yale New Haven Health ’s website warns of some risks of drug interactions—vitamins that can occur after a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted—along with vitamin intake. For example, vitamin C can interfere with chemotherapy drugs and statins, according to Best Life.

If you feel the need to take a vitamin supplement, see your doctor to make sure the reason you feel the need to take vitamins is not due to an underlying medical condition, advises Dr. Brittany Langdon, a pharmacist at Yale New Haven Hospital (USA).

It is very easy to overdose or underdose.

Both scenarios are possible: Low doses won't produce results, while too much can lead to harm. The goal is to maximize benefits without overdoing it, and your doctor can provide the best guidance to ensure safe and effective vitamin intake.

It’s also important to consider recommended levels. Your doctor will explain them based on your specific health profile. Additionally, they can use blood tests and other important health indicators to track your vitamin levels over time, assess their impact, and make more accurate recommendations.

First of all "ask your doctor"

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Many people often take vitamins unnecessarily.

The American Medical Association notes that while vitamins or supplements can be beneficial, they can also pose health risks. As for vitamins, most of us can get the nutrients we need through our diet, says Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. Many people often take vitamins unnecessarily, according to Best Life.

Your doctor knows best

Harvard Medical School's website Harvard Health , based on research, recommends first "asking your doctor." They can determine if you need vitamins and, if you are deficient, how to take them properly, according to Best Life.

Why risk it? Just talk to your doctor so you can take vitamins safely, follow the right dosage, and live a healthier life.