Yes—some vitamins and supplements can affect the liver or kidneys when taken in excessive doses or in people with certain medical conditions, but the headline “9 supplements you shouldn’t take” would be misleading. Normal recommended doses of most vitamins are generally safe.
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NCBI
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9 to be especially careful with
Vitamin A — high doses can cause liver injury.
Niacin (vitamin B3) — large doses, particularly sustained-release forms, can damage the liver.
Vitamin D — excessive supplementation can raise calcium levels and potentially cause kidney stones or kidney damage.
Vitamin C — very high doses can increase the risk of kidney stones in susceptible people.
Vitamin B6 — excessive long-term doses can cause nerve damage.
Iron — unnecessary high doses can be toxic and can damage organs, including the liver.
Calcium supplements — excessive intake can contribute to kidney stones in some people.
Green-tea extract — concentrated capsules/tablets have been linked to rare but potentially serious liver injury; ordinary green tea is much safer.
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NCCIH
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Multi-ingredient herbal/weight-loss supplements — some have been associated with serious liver injury, and the exact harmful ingredient isn’t always identifiable.
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PubMed
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⚠️ The biggest lesson
“Natural” doesn’t mean harmless, and more isn’t better. Risk increases with high doses, combining multiple products, contaminated/adulterated supplements, certain medications, and existing liver or kidney disease.
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NCCIH
If you have kidney or liver disease, or take several medicines, it’s especially important to have your supplements reviewed by a doctor or pharmacist before starting them.
If you have the original list of nine supplements from the post, send it to me and I’ll check each one and tell you which claims are accurate and which are exaggerated.
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