The easiest way to provide the body with vitamins: eat a nutritious and balanced diet. However, we continue to obsess over taking supplements that we don’t need. And not only that. We’re looking for ways to make it simple and even fun. A good example of this is gummies. But there is a fashion that could even surpass them: vitamin patches
These are patches filled with vitamins that penetrate the body. through the skin. The mechanism is very similar to that of birth control patches or nicotine patches. This is a way to avoid forgetfulness and get an adequate supply of vitamins every day. Or so it is supposed. But do vitamin patches really work?
Reality, according to experts in the article National Geographicis that they are not as good as they promise. There are several reasons why we should avoid using them. First, as with any supplement, regardless of its format, we may not even need it. But there are much more specific ones that only work on vitamin patches.
Who should use vitamin patches?
In general, most of us, if we eat right, will have good supply of vitamins in our body. So, taking supplements may be a bad idea for two reasons. First of all, because it is a waste of money if we don’t need it. And, secondly, because it can even be dangerous. There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble. The former, such as vitamin C, dissolve easily in water, so if in excess they are excreted through urine. If we already had a good supply of vitamins and took supplements, we would be looking at the most expensive urine in the world.
On the other hand, fat-soluble vitamins such as D are not excreted but accumulate in fat and can cause what is called hypervitaminosis. This condition can be very dangerous, so we have to be careful.
Therefore, all supplements, including vitamin patches, should only be taken if they are truly needed. Usually as prescribed by a doctor.
They are usually prescribed to people who have undergone weight loss surgery. The one known as bariatric surgery. When patients have just had surgery, they may have trouble eating and absorbing vitamins. That’s why they are prescribed supplements. If they don’t have problems swallowing, tablets will always be better. However, if they have such difficulties, some benefit may be obtained from vitamin patches. Or at least they could if they knew for sure that they worked.
There is no evidence that they are truly effective.
The idea behind vitamin patches is that the vitamins pass through the skin until they reach it. blood flowwhere they can now perform their functions.
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The skin has barriers that prevent the penetration of external agents. Typically these barriers are composed of lipids. Therefore, water-soluble vitamins such as C will be very difficult to tolerate. Fat-soluble ones may pass more easily. Water-soluble ones can even be wrapped in some kind of oil to make them pass better. fat barriers. But even so, there is still no evidence that it works.
There is very little research on the effectiveness of vitamin patches. Moreover, of those few, most don’t think they actually work. They are usually performed on patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. After they are given vitamin patches, their blood levels of vitamins and It is usually confirmed that they have not increased at all.. On the other hand, this is what they do with tablet supplements. Some of the few studies supporting the use of vitamin patches do not take into account patients’ diet, which could affect the increase in vitamin levels in the blood. They also don’t have a control group to compare to. In short, these tend to be poorly designed studies.
Why don’t we know if vitamin patches work or birth control works?
The experts’ conclusion is that vitamin patches do not seem to be truly effective. However, it is clear that there are widely used patches that have been accepted by the scientific community. We are talking, among other things, about contraceptive patches or nicotine patches.
The difference, according to experts surveyed National Geographic, The fact is that the effectiveness of these other patches has been much better tested. Most of them are considered drugs, while vitamin patches are supplements.
The drugs must undergo a series of clinical trials that analyze the best ways to use them, their effectiveness and possible side effects. For example, since not all medicine will be able to penetrate the skin barrier, the dose that must be added to the patch is carefully calculated to obtain an adequate dose in the blood. In addition, the side effects of substances such as glue, which can cause allergies, are analyzed.
Supplements, on the other hand, are not subject to as much prior research. They can be sold without careful analysis.
Ultimately, if your doctor recommended vitamin patches for some reason, they may be a good idea. But, like gummies, they are nothing more than an unnecessary fad that may it only affects your pocket. And not entirely positive effects.
Source: Hiper Textual
