Last week I talked about vitamin D and how it can improve bladder function. That led me to think about supplements and vitamins, how they are regulated and how they can impact your body. So, can vitamins and supplements have a negative effect on the bladder and irritate the bladder?

The regulation of supplements and vitamins

When you prescribe a medication, you know exactly what is in the medication. The United States very strictly regulates medications. But supplements and vitamins fall into a different category of regulation. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) does not review and approve supplements based on their safety and effectiveness (although they do track complications). They also do not inspect the manufacturing processes and facilities. There are rules that companies are supposed to follow called the Good Manufacturing Practices for supplements (cGMP). The company is responsible for ensuring safety and there is no outside process to make sure this is happening. Companies also don’t have to verify the ingredients and potency of the supplement with an independent agency, although many do. While lots of companies follow these rules, supplements can be made and packaged anywhere in the world and there is a lot of variability in what you get. The FDA announced in 2019 that they will be created a new safety process for supplements (see more info on the FDA regulation process here).

What to look for in a vitamin or supplement

To be as safe as possible, make sure that the vitamin or supplement you buy follows the Good Manufacturing Processes for supplements and has the product tested by an independent agency. This information is fairly easy to find. Some stores, like CVS, only carry vitamins and supplements that have been tested independently.

Vitamins and supplements that can irritate the bladder

So, once you are sure that your vitamins and supplements are of good quality, can they irritate your bladder? The short answer is yes. Most medications and supplements contain fillers and these fillers can irritate the bladder in sensitive women. Be sure to check the label for all ingredients. Additives like artificial sweeteners may negatively impact your bladder and you should avoid them if you are having problems. There are also studies to suggest that vitamin C supplements can cause some bladder irritability. This data is strongest with supplements and not foods containing vitamin C. And while there is little data, anecdotally, vitamin B complex can bug the bladder.

If you are having a lot of bladder irritability and just can’t figure it out, think about stopping all of your supplements to see if it gets better. If it does, add the supplements back in one by one until you figure out what is bothering you. It is likely to be an additive or filler and not the active ingredient. This may seem like a pain, but identifying what bothers your bladder will help you to avoid it in the future. And that can be a huge help to you!

Maserejian NN et al. Intakes of vitamins and minerals in relation to urinary incontinence, voiding, and storge symptoms in women: a cross sectional analysis from the Boston Area Community Health Survery Eur Urol 2011;59(6):1039-47.

https://www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplements