Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion

Each of the seven drug categories depletes vitamin D, and the resulting deficiency worsens the condition the drug was prescribed for. Nutrient deficiency symptoms caused by medications can be mistaken for new or worsening conditions, which then get treated with additional drugs. The feedback loop between drug-induced deficiencies and additional prescriptions makes identifying the root cause difficult. Top medication classes can converge on mitochondrial dysfunction and disrupted neurotransmitter synthesis through nutrient depletion. NSAIDs are described as capable of impairing gut integrity and absorption, creating downstream deficiencies. Medication-related nutrient depletion can compound when patients take multiple prescriptions. Many nutrients depleted by medications are involved in critical processes including DNA repair, enzyme function, nerve signaling, and cardiovascular health. Vitamin D has therapeutic effects on the very conditions these medications treat, making its depletion particularly counterproductive. Additional medication classes can produce overlapping deficiencies in nutrients needed for methylation, ATP production, and neurotransmitter synthesis. The depletion…