The use, or rather the abuse, of food supplements such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, proteins, amino acids or derivatives (among which we also place creatine) and plant derivatives, is widespread among the general population in order to promote the health and / or improve certain sports skills.
Food supplements are considered safe natural products and are readily available without a prescription.
However, as described by a 2014 experimental work entitled " Renal risks of dietary complements: a forgotten causes ", these can induce some forms of "renal intoxication", especially in undiagnosed subjects suffering from nephropathy.
In particular, Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid, fermented red rice containing citrinin, but also high synthetic doses of vitamin C, creatine and proteins, can induce / worsen acute and chronic renal failure, sometimes irreversibly.
This form of food supplement poisoning must be suspected in all cases of idiopathic renal failure.
To conclude, in the case of pre-existing nephropathies, the use of food supplements and potentially nephrotoxic drugs must be absolutely avoided; in parallel, even without any diagnosis of nephropathy, it is necessary to keep in mind that the excess of certain molecules can also trigger a renal disease, especially in the presence of hidden or ignored risk factors.
