Gut health
Nutritionist Sweta Ashok, founder of The Gut Guru Company, cautions that anti-ageing therapies may disrupt the gut microbiota. Long-term use of anti-ageing injectables, hormone replacement therapies (HRT), and supplement cocktails has been linked to common gut issues such as bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea. She warns that HRT in particular can lead to systemic inflammation, which ironically accelerates ageing from within. “Even botox has been shown to delay gastric emptying, the process by which food passes from the stomach to the intestines,” Ashok says.
Kidneys
There’s a very real risk to the kidneys too, warns Dr Vaibhav Keskar, nephrologist at Fortis Hospital. “Too much vitamin C, vitamin D, or contaminated protein powders can lead to serious kidney issues. We saw this during the COVID era, when people were taking vitamin C for months thinking it was safe,” he states.
Liver
Anti-ageing treatment may also affect liver health. Dr Dattatray Solanke, consultant and gastroenterologist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, warns that many anti-ageing treatments “are unregulated substances marketed as nutraceuticals or herbal remedies, making them easily accessible without prescriptions.” Such hormone therapies and high-dose injectables can strain the liver’s detox pathways and interfere with bile flow, potentially leading to jaundice or conditions like cholestasis. In some cases, these treatments may contribute to fatty liver disease or oxidative stress.
Lack of lifestyle changes
Karan Sarin, certified metabolic health coach and founder of Sweet Reactions, warns that merely chasing anti-ageing trends won’t help if we ignore health basics such as cutting down on sugar. Excess sugar consumption, he says, results in damage to collagen and elastin, structurally ageing the skin from the inside out. According to him, the biggest red flags are clinics offering drips and treatments without asking basic lifestyle questions. “If they’re not addressing your sugar, sleep, or diet, they’re selling a patch, not a solution,” he says.
Consult medical professionals
The experts recommend consulting medical professionals before opting for anti-ageing treatments. Additionally, one should steer clear of clinics or practitioners making exaggerated anti-ageing claims.
Read full story: Forever young, but at what cost?
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