Effects of Dietary Supplements
The effects of dietary supplements are diverse and may be adverse. These preparations have been in use for thousands of years and predate modern pharmaceuticals.[8] Most of these agents are relatively safe, although the FDA recently reported that ephedra (Ephedra sinesis, ma huang), a weight loss agent, poses "an unreasonable risk to human health" due to its increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
Although an exhaustive review of the potential toxicity of dietary supplements is beyond the scope of this manuscript, certain effects are important for the practicing ophthalmologist. These are divided here into three categories: direct ocular effects; bleeding effects that may affect ocular surgery; and effects on medications used frequently by patients in a typical ophthalmologic practice.
Compr Ophthalmol Update. 2005;6(3):153-159. © 2005 Comprehensive Ophthalmology Update, LLC
Cite this: Dietary Supplements and the Ophthalmologist - Medscape - May 01, 2005.
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