Question: I am 72 years old. I still work and am still active. I take several supplements, seventy each day. My children are concerned that I may ruin my liver by taking so many. Is this possible?

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

Supplements are meant to be just that, they are food supplements for those of us whose diet. Absorption or diseases require specific supplementation. They are safest when used under professional supervision. They are not FDA approved for treating or preventing any specific diseases despite many claims in their advertisements.

As a general rule, your family is probably correct in warning you. Some supplements do interfere with prescription medication, so they are not necessarily free of side-effects. Always discuss specific supplement issues with your doctor, and ask whether there may be any medical concerns specific to you. Seventy supplement tablets daily is far in excess of any amount usually recommended, and I cannot imagine that you really need all of them.