Zero deaths from any dietary supplement – including calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, colloidal silver, selenium, iron or a multi-vitamin – were recorded by the US National Poison Data System in 2014, the latest data that is available.
There were also no deaths from any amino acid or herbal supplement, including blue cohosh, Echinacea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, kava kava, St John’s wort and valerian, yohimbe, and any Asian or Ayurvedic medicines.
The data system also recorded no deaths from glucosamine or chondroitin, or from any homeopathic remedy.
Prescription medicine isn’t quite so safe, however. Around 150,000 Americans die each year from an adverse reaction to a drug properly prescribed and taken, and a further 350,000 die from a drug incorrectly administered, either because of error or from a deliberate overdose.
(Source: Clinical Toxicology, 2015; 10: 962-1147)
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