Medical disclaimer

Everything published on NTH Health is general information. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not create any professional relationship between you and us.

What that means

Nothing here accounts for your circumstances. Your age, kidney function, pregnancy, existing conditions, prescription medicines and other supplements all change what is appropriate for you, and a web page cannot know any of them.

We do not recommend doses, products or courses of action, and we do not diagnose anything. Where a guide describes what a study found, that is a description of the study, not a suggestion that you do the same.

Before you act on anything you read here

Speak with your doctor or pharmacist, particularly if you have reduced kidney function, take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are considering a supplement for a child, or are managing a health condition.

Do not stop, start or change a prescribed medicine based on anything on this site.

Do not use this site to diagnose a deficiency. Low levels of a nutrient are established with tests, and the symptoms commonly attributed to them overlap with a great many other things.

If something is wrong

In an emergency, call 000.

For suspected poisoning or an overdose, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Australia.

For health advice at any hour, healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Currency

Guides carry the date they were last reviewed. We revisit them when evidence or Australian guidance changes, but research moves and a page may not reflect the most recent position on a topic. Where accuracy matters to a decision you are making, check the primary sources we link to, and speak with a health professional.

If you think something here is wrong, our corrections policy explains how to tell us.