Jaiwant Rangi, MD, FACEEndocrinologist | Founder, Lower The Dose® | Speaker

The Hidden Hazard of the Unreported Supplement Habit

5 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief segment, Dr. Jaiwant Rangi highlights that over 70% of Americans regularly take dietary supplements, yet a large majority fail to disclose this to their physicians. He illustrates the clinical danger of this hidden habit with a case of an octogenarian patient whose unexplained sodium and potassium abnormalities prompted him to request a full inventory of her supplements. The patient reluctantly produced two large Nordstrom shopping bags filled with numerous products, underscoring how patients often consume supplements indiscriminately, akin to drinking water, without informing their doctors. The speaker uses this anecdote to warn about the hidden hazards of unreported supplement use and the importance of thorough medication reconciliation.

Chapters

Over 70% of Americans take supplements. 70%. Let me say that again. But many don't tell their doctors. Did you know that? This is exactly what I told my patient when I just could not figure out why I cannot understand her sodium and potassium. I said, I want to look at every supplement that you're taking. And this was elderly, in her 80s, and she's like, no, doc, you don't want to see what I'm taking. I said, now I really want to see what you're taking. So I asked her to bring her bags, and like I mentioned, she got 2 bags full of Nordstrom shopping bags and so much supplement that she should not be taking. And so this— people are Taking it like water.