Stacking supplements without key test can do more harm than good, expert warns

Supplements are a daily wellness habit for many Americans – but experts warn more isn’t always better.

Some common nutritional supplements include zinc for immune function, ashwaganda for stress relief, fish oil for improving heart health and magnesium for better sleep, among others that have gained popularity on social media.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist and metabolic medicine expert based in Texas, said that supplements should be balanced with other medications and medical conditions .

AMERICANS ARE GIVING UP MULTIVITAMINS FOR A DIFFERENT DAILY HEALTH HABIT, STUDY FINDS "I've never met a supplement I didn't like under the right circumstances," he said.

"There's some evidence around what it's doing in the body." While supplementing certain nutrients can be beneficial, the health expert warned that overdoing it can be "problematic." "A lot of people take one of everything and then stack peptides on top of it – and then they're going and doing 18 different things," he said.

It's important to first assess what the body needs from an individualized approach, according to LaValle.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES For example, low magnesium has been associated with the development of metabolic syndrome .

In that case, he said, taking a magnesium supplement could help to balance out levels.

"We assume that if you eat healthy, you're going to get those nutrients.

But are the foods we're selecting actually rich in those nutrients ?" he questioned.

LaValle recommends using supplements to address specific needs, starting with a blood test to pinpoint any deficiencies, rather than blindly treating symptoms.

Low iron and ferritin are common among people complaining of fatigue , LaValle said, yet some may instead turn to supplements like ashwagandha or rhodiola in an effort to boost their energy.

TAKING DAILY SUPPLEMENT MAY HELP PRESERVE MUSCLE AS YOU AGE — EVEN WITHOUT EXERCISE "They’re buying some kind of stimulant adaptogen to try to get their energy up," he said.

"That’s pretty basic — you’re low in iron, and you never got a blood test." LaValle noted that the number of biomarkers measured is less important than how well the results are interpreted.