A relentless quest for beauty and wellness, marked by the desire for flawless skin and strong immunity, has fuelled a craze among Nigerians for consuming a wide range of dietary supplements. Often marketed as quick fixes and taken without medical advice, these products are increasingly linked to organ damage and, in some cases, death. IJEOMA NWANOSIKE reports that while desperate consumers seem to be playing Russian roulette with their health, the shift to e-commerce has made regulating online drug sales a Herculean task, and the growing societal obsession with body enhancement products is fuelling a silent epidemic.

When Adibeli’s sister, Ifeoma, sent her pregnancy supplements from the United Kingdom (UK), she was simply over the moon. As time went by, a box packed with baby clothes and canned food would arrive from the UK every few months, alongside the latest vitamins “recommended by her British friends.”

When she received the last package in her sixth month of pregnancy, tucked neatly between maternity dresses and jars of baby lotion was a bottle of multivitamin supplements. “These are the best ones here. Take one daily. It will help the baby,” read a note that Ifeoma had attached to the package.

Grateful and trusting, she added the pills to her morning routine without question. She didn’t know the supplements contained a high dose of Vitamin A, far beyond what her doctor would have recommended. No one had warned her, and she assumed all vitamins were safe during pregnancy.

The day she gave birth was both joyous and confusing. Her baby boy, Chidubem, had the sweetest face, but he struggled to breathe. Doctors soon discovered a congenital heart defect — a hole in his heart. They tried their best. But three weeks later, Chidubem passed away in his mother’s arms.

She was inconsolable. It was only during follow-up investigations that a paediatric cardiologist gently mentioned the possibility that excessive Vitamin A during pregnancy may have been a contributing factor. She was stunned: all she had wanted was to give her child the best start in life. Adibeli’s story, both heartbreaking and avoidable, could have been prevented if the supplements had been taken under professional guidance.

According to experts, children and the elderly are especially at risk of supplement toxicity resulting from excessive intake due to underdeveloped organs in children or compromised ones in elderly people, like Lara’s mother.

When Lara’s phone rang that quiet November morning, she didn’t expect to hear her brother’s frantic voice at the other end. It went thus: “Mummy is in the ICU. Her organs are shutting down.” Everything went blank for Lara after that call.

Her mother, 63-year-old Mrs Bimpe Adetola, had always been what many would call a typical Nigerian matriarch; resilient, stubborn, and deeply committed to her version of self-care. For her, that meant a shelf full of multi-coloured bottles labelled “Immune Booster,” “Vitamin C-1000,” “Joint Support,” “Liver Cleanse,” “Magnesium Complex,” and at least 10 others. Every morning, she washed down a cocktail of pills with warm water, proudly calling it her “sanitation.”

“Mummy, you’re taking too many,” Lara would often protest. But her warnings were brushed aside with a gentle scoff and the same line: “You young people don’t understand. At my age, the body needs support.” Support—it turned out—came at a terrible cost.

By the time she was rushed to the emergency room, Mrs Adetola was experiencing full organ failure. Her kidneys had shut down, requiring continuous dialysis. Her heart was struggling to maintain rhythm. Doctors found that her abdomen had perforated, leaking toxic fluids into her body. The cause? A dangerous build-up from over-medication. She was septic, and the prognosis was grim.

It wasn’t just prescription drugs. The culprit was a steady, unchecked accumulation of over-the-counter supplements, many of which she didn’t even need. Her daily intake of magnesium, for example, had reached toxic levels, putting her at risk of cardiac arrest. Her Vitamin A levels were so high that her liver enzymes were dangerously elevated, and the overdose worsened the bone pain she had been trying to treat.

“The irony is that she was trying to get stronger. But the very thing she thought was helping her almost killed her,” Lara recalled bitterly.

Miraculously, Mrs Adetola survived, and after weeks in the ICU and months of rehabilitation, she began to heal. But not before Lara threw away every bottle in her mother’s medicine cabinet.

Lara knows that her mother’s story is not unique. “We’ve normalised this dangerous habit. Every market woman, every aunty in church has one miracle vitamin or supplement that they’re swearing by. And the marketing is ruthless. People are spending their hard-earned money on pills that they don’t even need,” she said.

Consequently, Lara has taken it upon herself to educate others. “Before you take anything, check with your doctor. Run blood tests. Know what your body needs. You might be fine. Your body might already be making enough of what you think it needs,” she advised.

While small amounts of these much sought-after vitamins are naturally found in foods, experts explain that high doses through concentrated supplements can disrupt the hormonal system, especially when used without medical supervision. They further warn that taking supplements without proper medical guidance and recommendations can have devastating consequences.

Often referred to as dietary supplements, these products include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and herbs, which are meant to add to, or supplement a person’s diet.

Supplements can be dangerous too

NOT long ago, growing safety concerns emerged over the use of turmeric supplements following a series of liver injury cases reported by the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN) in the United States. In a clinical research study published in the American Journal of Medicine, DILIN identified cases of turmeric-related liver damage between 2004 and 2022.

According to the study, patients reported symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, dark urine, and jaundice; classic signs of liver dysfunction. In more serious cases, hospitalisation was required, and patients suffered acute liver failure, underscoring the potentially life-threatening consequences of supplement misuse.

Turmeric, a golden-hued spice deeply rooted in traditional medicine, has gained widespread popularity in recent years for its perceived health benefits.

Researchers involved in the study urged caution and emphasised that although turmeric in culinary use is generally safe, concentrated supplement forms carry a different risk profile.

Rising from these unfolding scenarios, a Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, Dr Charles Nwako, advised Nigerians to exercise caution with dietary supplements, warning that excessive intake, especially without professional guidance, can lead to serious health complications, including birth defects, liver disease, and stroke.

While supplements are useful in specific conditions like pregnancy, old age, illness, and poor dietary intake, Nwako explained that they should only be used when prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals.

“Pregnant women, for instance, need folic acid and iron to prevent miscarriage and promote foetal development. But excessive intake, especially of vitamins like A, can cause deformities,” he noted, adding that children, the elderly, people with liver or kidney dysfunction, and those on multiple medications are at greater risk of vitamin toxicity.

Warning that “drug interactions can nullify or dangerously enhance the effects of other medications,” he cited examples such as Vitamin K interfering with blood thinners, or Vitamin C reducing the effectiveness of antimalarials.

To avoid harm, he urged Nigerians to prioritise natural food sources, avoid self-medication, and consult pharmacists, physicians, or dietitians before using any supplement. He also cautioned against falling for aggressive marketing by supplement vendors. “These merchants often lack medical knowledge and exaggerate claims for profit, putting lives at risk,” he said.

Equally raising concerns about the increasing abuse of dietary supplements in Nigeria is a clinical nutritionist and digital health creator, Odukoya Fiyinfoluwa, popularly known as YourDietBoy, who told The Guardian that many Nigerians are misusing supplements, often purchasing them from vendors or shops with no medical knowledge or understanding of proper dosage requirements.

He explained that the practice of taking supplements without professional guidance is not only unwise but potentially harmful; hence, individuals must first undergo laboratory testing to confirm any nutrient or vitamin deficiencies before using supplements.

“When someone is confirmed, through laboratory testing to have a deficiency, they should only take supplements as prescribed by a qualified expert,” he emphasised, stressing that supplement usage should be time-bound and closely monitored.

“You’re supposed to stop when your body has had enough, but Nigerians don’t listen. Many just assume it’s something they should keep taking in perpetuity, and that’s unfortunate,” he lamented.

According to him, consistent overdosing can result in a range of health complications, some of which may be severe.

Age reversal attempts, flawless skin, others fuelling an epidemic

EVEN when there are growing concerns that some supplements may be laced with steroids or synthetic hormones to speed up results, beyond taking supplements for dietary purposes, many, in the name of beauty, have learnt the hard way through irreversible health consequences.

Nancy Nwobodo had always believed in looking her best. At 33, she was a successful banker who took great care of her appearance. Her skin glowed effortlessly, a result of her disciplined skincare routine and daily intake of supplements: Vitamin C and glutathione. These weren’t just beauty enhancers in her eyes; they were part of her self-care, ensuring that she remained radiant and confident in every room she walked into.

For years, Nwobodo saw no harm in her routine. If anything, it reassured her that she was doing the right thing. But beauty sometimes has a price, and hers came knocking most devastatingly.

It started with kidney stones; painful but treatable. She received care and moved on, never considering that her beloved supplements had played a role. But the problem didn’t stop there. Her kidneys began to deteriorate at an alarming rate, and soon, she faced a terrifying reality and needed a transplant to survive.

Even as doctors struggled to understand the cause of her kidney failure, Nwobodo continued taking her supplements religiously, believing that they were aiding her recovery, unaware that they were slowly destroying her body from within.

Her younger sister turned out to be a perfect match and, without hesitation, donated one of her kidneys to save her loved one’s life. The transplant was successful, and after a long period of recovery, she was finally allowed to go home. With her health restored, she resumed her daily routines, including her vitamin and glutathione regimen, believing she was only doing what was best for her body.

Then, the sickness returned. Confused and scared, she went back to the hospital. Her doctors, determined to find the missing puzzle piece, asked a casual but life-changing question: “Are you taking any medication apart from what we prescribed?” Without hesitation, she mentioned her supplements.

A deeper investigation followed, and the doctors made a shocking discovery: her high dosage of Vitamin C and glutathione had been damaging her kidneys all along. The very thing she thought was enhancing her beauty had been silently pushing her towards organ failure.

This time, the warning was clear: Stop immediately or you may not be so lucky next time.

Nwobodo had narrowly escaped death, but she was just one of many women unknowingly risking their lives for glowing skin.

“Skin like milk!” has become a common catchphrase among women today when praising each other for possessing a glowing, radiant complexion. In the relentless pursuit of beauty and wellness, many are turning to dietary supplements, believing they hold the secret to flawless skin, strong immunity, and overall good health. But beneath the glossy promises and glowing reviews lies a silent danger: excessive supplementation.

Every day, new supplements flood the market, filling shelves in pharmacies, cosmetic stores, and now supermarkets and gymnasiums where they are commonly dispensed by cashiers on the go. Marketers roam the streets, promoting their products with persuasive pitches: “It’s all organic, made from natural ingredients; nothing artificial here, all completely safe and great for your health!” These assurances, however, often come without proper education on dosage, possible interactions, or long-term effects.

Many of these supplements are marketed and sold as capsules, liquids, tablets, pills, gummies, or powders containing ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, fish oils (Omega), melatonin, herbs and botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, among others.

Most of the marketing now takes place across social media platforms with influencers promoting these unchecked products as safe supplements for general wellness, as well as for aesthetics, including breast and hip enhancements.

One of those lured and trapped by these unrelenting marketers is Godwin Blessing, 24, who had always felt confident in her body until her Instagram and TikTok feeds were flooded with images of hourglass-shaped influencers promoting “natural” body enhancement pills.

The supplements promised curvier hips, fuller breasts, and a more “feminine” figure within weeks. They came in clear jars with bold, hand-designed labels, endorsed by influencers who proudly credited their transformations to what they called “all-natural magic.”

“I didn’t want surgery, and these pills felt like the easy way out. They were everywhere online, and people made it seem like they worked with testimonies, pictures of the after results,” she said.

But just two months after she began taking the pills, she noticed painful lumps developing in her breasts. At first, she brushed them off. But the pain worsened. A visit to the doctor confirmed they were cysts, likely caused by a hormonal imbalance. Her body, she was told, had been thrown off by the high doses of phytoestrogens (plant-based compounds that mimic oestrogen) found in the enhancement supplements she had taken.

“I was scared. No one talks about the side effects. You just see before-and-after pictures and think, that could be me,” she said quietly.

Across social media in Nigeria and beyond, a booming market has emerged for herbal body enhancement products. They’re sold under names like “curvy root,” “body magic formula,” or “hip-boost,” and claim to contain ingredients such as fenugreek, maca root, or pueraria mirifica.

A quick search of hashtags like #HipEnlargement, #CurvyBodyGoals, and #HerbalEnhancement on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook reveals thousands of posts pushing enhancement supplements.

For example, TikTok #liquidbbl has over 4460 posts, and #herbalsucced has approximately 2621 posts. Also, the #bbleffect has more than 34.1k posts, and #howtogrowglutes has up to 7086 posts. Viral TikTok videos featuring users showing body transformations linked to bbl gummies, syrup, and pills have over three million views.

Although the products are marketed as natural and safe, many remain unregulated, with little to no verified information about their ingredients. A review of online vendors revealed that several sellers had limited knowledge of what they were offering.

One Instagram-based vendor marketing a skin-lightening supplement responded, “It works, that’s what matters,” when asked about the product’s composition. To prove the effectiveness of her products, she showcased before-and-after photos of her customers with dramatic transformations without disclosing if they experienced any side effects. These images, often shared by vendors, are used to sidestep questions about safety and shift attention to visible results.

Supplements not ‘ethical products’

AMID rising concerns over the safety of dietary supplements, the failure of dietary supplements to be recognised as “ethical drugs” could still pose a serious challenge.

According to the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, while these products are widely perceived as harmless, they can be dangerous when taken in excess or at incorrect dosages.

But despite these risks, she clarified that supplements cannot be regulated as prescription-only medicines under current Nigerian law, as they are not classified as “ethical products” (a regulatory term for drugs that require a doctor’s prescription).

“While some supplements are dangerous when taken in excess or at incorrect dosages, supplements are generally not classified as prescription drugs, and as such, our focus is on educating the public rather than imposing blanket restrictions,” she explained.

NAFDAC’s warnings are in the wake of recent enforcement actions related to supplement fraud.

In April, the agency issued a public alert warning healthcare providers and consumers about the circulation of a falsified supplement product known as Wonder Calcium, which bears a fake NAFDAC registration number: 04-1029.

The alert followed a formal complaint by Asad Pharmaceutical Ltd., which reported that its name had been fraudulently used on the counterfeit product’s packaging, falsely suggesting it was the legitimate manufacturer.

The agency emphasised that the unauthorised marketing and distribution of falsified products such as Wonder Calcium pose serious health risks and urged consumers to remain vigilant.

Adding his voice to the warning, Dr Charles Nwako expressed concern that the country remains a hot spot for falsified and poor-quality medical products. He said that the continued distribution of unregulated supplements and medicines could result in a surge in organ-related health problems, including kidney, liver, and heart complications, as many of these products contain substances that the body struggles to detoxify or eliminate.

He warned of the carcinogenic potential of some ingredients, raising the risk of increased cancer cases. Nwako further cautioned on a potential spike in hospitalisations and readmissions linked to organ damage, adverse drug reactions, and therapy failures.

This trend, he noted, could exacerbate disease progression and promote drug resistance. Beyond health risks, he also pointed to the economic toll on individuals and the healthcare system, with consumers wasting money on harmful and ineffective products.

Improved family values, public awareness and enhanced regulation could save the day

AMONG other things, experts are attributing this trend to poor family values and outdated educational systems. They, therefore, called for the reinforcement of guidance and counselling in schools for a more positive sociological outcome. As the popularity of these supplements continues to rise, doctors and health advocates are calling for better regulation and more public awareness. (The Guardian)