Question: Can off-the-shelf multi-vitamins and mineral supplements cause this? The higher RDA's on the label read: 300mg C, 30mg B-1, 30mg B-2, 30mg B-6, 30mcg B-12 and a slew of minerals and other innocuous products like Pumkin seed meal, Oyster extract and Ginseng powder. What else could cause this? Could I be alergic to something in the vitamin? I am going to stop taking them until I find out.
Medical History: My paternal grand-father died mid-30's of heart failure, my father experienced a heart attack at 51, with by-passes and etc. lived to 69. I'm 6'0' 200 lbs, strong build, much lower than avg blood pressure with a normal resting heart rate of 60-70bpm. No serious illnesses or injuries, no previous heart-lung problems, no medications, no drugs ever, no Alcohol ever, no tobacco ever. Regularly eat a low fat/high protein diet. Computer Analyst 40 hours a week with mild exercise 6 days a week. Married with four small children. (that might do it!)
Thank you
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD JMF on July 02, 1999 at 12:12:29Deasr Roland,
Thank you for your question. It is more likely that your extra beats were secondary to your cola and extra caffeine than from your vitamins. However, you should be cautious with any additional supplement whether it be a vitamin or "health food" some of these have a significant side effects and can cause arrhythmias.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own
doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call
1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to
address your cardiac problem.
