Completia Diabetic Review 2026: Worth the Price?

Possible side effects

• The most common complaints are diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, and other digestive upset.

Serious risks

• High intakes may raise urinary oxalate and uric acid, which could contribute to kidney stones, especially in people with renal disorders.
• The best evidence that vitamin C contributes to kidney stones is in patients who already have hyperoxaluria.
• In people with hereditary hemochromatosis, long-term high doses could worsen iron overload and cause tissue damage.
• A few in vitro studies suggested that supplemental oral vitamin C, acting as a pro-oxidant, could cause chromosomal or DNA damage and possibly contribute to cancer.
• In postmenopausal women with diabetes in the Iowa Women's Health Study, supplemental vitamin C of at least 300 mg/day was significantly associated with a higher risk of dying from CVD.

Avoid or ask a doctor first if

• People with hereditary hemochromatosis face a concern about iron overload with chronic high doses.
• The upper limits do not apply to people receiving vitamin C as medical treatment, who should be under a physician's care.
• Infants should get vitamin C only from formula and food.

Medication interactions

• Vitamin C supplements may interact with radiation therapy and with medications, including chemotherapy drugs and statins.
• People taking these medications regularly should talk with their health care providers about vitamin C intake.

Serious risks

• The Food and Nutrition Board set no upper limit for B12 because its potential for toxicity is low.

Avoid or ask a doctor first if

• People who regularly take certain medications are told to talk with their health care providers about their B12 status.

Medication interactions

• B12 supplements may interact with some medications. Gastric acid inhibitors and metformin may affect B12 levels.
• Several types of medications might adversely affect B12 levels.

Possible side effects

• Early signs of too much selenium are a garlic odor on the breath and a metallic taste in the mouth.
• Hair loss and nail brittleness or loss are the most common clinical signs of chronically high selenium intake.
• Other signs of chronically high intake include skin rash, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, irritability, and nervous system abnormalities.

Serious risks

• Acute selenium toxicity can cause severe gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, respiratory distress syndrome, heart attack, kidney failure, cardiac failure, and, in rare cases, death.
• Acute toxicity has resulted from misformulated over-the-counter products containing very large amounts of selenium. In 2008, 201 people had severe adverse reactions to a liquid supplement with 200 times the labeled amount.
• Brazil nuts contain very high amounts of selenium and could cause selenium toxicity if eaten regularly.

Avoid or ask a doctor first if

• The upper limits do not apply to people taking selenium under a physician's care.
• People who take medications regularly should discuss their selenium status with their health care providers.

Medication interactions

• Selenium supplements may interact with medications, and some medications, such as cisplatin, can affect selenium levels in the body.

Possible side effects

• Larger amounts or long-term use are sometimes linked to gastrointestinal problems or allergic reactions.
• Topical cinnamon oil or powder may cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis, according to reports.

Serious risks

• Interactions between coumarin, a chemical in cassia cinnamon, and the liver have been reported.
• Swallowing cinnamon powder in the "cinnamon challenge" is called unsafe, and serious harm is possible.

Avoid or ask a doctor first if

• Ceylon cinnamon in larger amounts during pregnancy is considered unsafe.
• Prolonged use of cassia cinnamon could be an issue for sensitive people, such as those with liver disease.

Medication interactions

• Some components of cinnamon may interact with an anticancer medicine or nicotine, for theoretical reasons.