Vitamin Supplements – Do They Work? – The Case For 9 A Day Plus
by THP
Filed under Diet & Energy
Do Vitamin Supplements work?
Written by Jessica Smith
Wednesday, 09 September 2009
Vitamin Supplementation is huge worldwide. Most of us take vitamins now or have taken vitamins in the past.
Here are some statistics compiled by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) on supplementation:
The US ranks top in dietary supplementation globally.18.9% of Americans had taken at least one dietary supplement in 2004. Over 100 million Americans use vitamin and mineral supplements everyday.
The “global self-medication market” has become a multi-billion dollar industry and the dietary supplement sector is growing the fastest – 16% in 1998 alone. In the US, retail sales of supplements reached $11.3 billion in 2000.
The most common reason for supplement use is “to improve overall health and general well being.” It is a popular belief that vitamins are antioxidants and can therefore protect us from oxidative stress that causes many health conditions.
The most common health conditions that call for supplementation are menopause, cough, cold, flu, sore throat, and allergies or sinus conditions.
The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988–94 reported that about 40% of Americans, starting at age 2 months, have taken some kind of dietary supplement.
The most common supplements taken are:
- multivitamin/multiminerals – 22%
- multivitamins plus vitamin C – 15%
- vitamin C as a single vitamin – 13%
- herbal and botanical supplements – 7%
- vitamin E as a single vitamin – 6%
Over the years, more and more reports on the health benefits of vitamin supplements have emerged, ranging from cardiovascular benefits to cancer prevention. This is mainly due to the antioxidant properties of vitamins that can protect us from oxidative stress. As a result several studies have been conducted to confirm these reports. Some of the latest studies summarized below reveal surprising results to say the least.
Disease prevention and mortality
One of the very first studies to comprehensively investigate the health effects of vitamin supplements was conducted by Danish researchers in 2007. They performed a meta-analysis on data pooled from several clinical trials which used supplementation of the antioxidant vitamin A, vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium used as stand-alone or as combination supplements to treat a wide range of health conditions, from cardiovascular disorders to cancer. Their results were surprising, even troubling. For one, no benefits of these “antioxidant supplements” were found. Second, supplementation with vitamins A and E and beta-carotene (but not vitamin C and selenium) actually increased overall mortality. This study prompted other researchers to take a second look at the benefits of vitamin supplements.
In a more recent review paper, the same researchers performed another meta-analysis of more data from several clinical trials, this time involving over 200,000 people who are healthy as well as those with existing health conditions. The researchers only considered studies which compared the efficacy of antioxidant supplements against placebos in the primary and secondary prevention of different medical conditions. The authors reported that they “found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention. Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E may increase mortality.”
Cancer
Another meta-analysis investigated the anti-cancer properties of antioxidant supplements, particularly against gastrointestinal cancers. They looked at data of trials which studied beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, and E and selenium. The authors concluded that “we could not find convincing evidence that antioxidant supplements prevent gastrointestinal cancers.”
One of the most recent developments in vitamin supplement research is the long-term SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial) study of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The study evaluated the efficacy of selenium and Vitamin E in preventing prostate cancer and enrolled 35,000 male participants in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The participants were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: group 1 were given vitamin E supplements only, group 2 were given only selenium, group 3 took both supplements in combination, and group 4 were given placebos only. Five years into the study, the NCI decided to stop the trial because of some “concerning” findings, namely:
1. The analysis found no lower risk of prostate cancer in men taking the supplements, either alone or together.
2. Men who were taking only vitamin E actually had a slightly higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
3. Men taking only selenium seemed to have a slightly higher risk of developing diabetes.
Another study evaluated the efficacy of combined folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 in reducing cancer risk among women. Their result show that combined folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 treatment had no significant effect on overall risk of total invasive cancer or breast cancer among women during the folic acid fortification era.
A study published in December 2008 evaluated whether vitamins C and E and beta carotene supplementation have an effect on overall cancer risk. The data was taken from the Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study and involved 8,171 women who were cancer-free at the start of the study about 9.4 years ago. The findings of the study showed that “supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta carotene offers no overall benefits in the primary prevention of total cancer incidence or cancer mortality.”
Cardiovascular disorders
The Women’s Health Initiative Calcium/Vitamin D Trial evaluated the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplements on blood pressure and risk for hypertension risk of 36,252 healthy postmenopausal women. The women were assigned in 2 groups: one group received a daily supplement of 1000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D3 daily. The other group received placebo only. The researchers reported that “in postmenopausal women, calcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation did not reduce either blood pressure or the risk of developing hypertension over 7 years of follow-up.”
The Physicians’ Health Study II evaluated whether vitamin E or vitamin C have cardioprotective properties that can reduce risk for CVD in men. A total of 14,641 American doctors were enrolled in the study, aged 50 years and older, and were followed up for 8 years. The study results showed that “neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplementation reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events. These data provide no support for the use of these supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older men.”
This study evaluated whether antioxidant (vitamins E, C and/or beta-carotene) supplements can prevent atherosclerosis. The researchers performed a meta-analysis of 22 trials which involved 134,590 participants. The researcher conclude that “…the majority of studies included in this review does not support a possible role of antioxidant supplementation in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease … no definite conclusion can be drawn to justify the use of antioxidant vitamin supplements for the prevention of atherosclerotic events.”
Folic acid is routinely prescribed for pregnant women to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. It has also been thought that folic acid, which reduced the levels of homocysteine in the blood, can prevent cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine is an amino acid used as a biomarker for cardiovascular disorder. This trial investigated whether a vitamin combination pill with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 (vs. a placebo) can reduce cardiovascular risk. It enrolled more than 5,400 American women with a history of cardiovascular disease or with moderate to high risk profile for cardiovascular disease. After 7.3 years of treatment and follow-up, a combination pill of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 did not reduce a combined end point of total cardiovascular events among high-risk women, despite significant homocysteine lowering.
While most of the evidence from studies summarized here does not seem to support the health benefits of vitamin supplements, there are some studies which indicate that vitamin D supplementation is worthwhile, even essential.
Vitamin D is unique because we cannot get our vitamin D requirements from food alone. Instead, vitamin D is synthesized by the body upon exposure of the skin to the sun, thus earning it the title “sun vitamin.” However, since the sun is said to cause skin cancer, people tend to avoid exposure leading to widespread vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a large number of health problems including osteoporosis, rickets, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
American health experts are convinced of the necessity of vitamin D supplements and thus, routinely prescribe vitamin D supplements even for newborn babies. Milk and other dairy products in the US are fortified with vitamin D but not in many parts of the world. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidelines for vitamin D supplementation to recommend the doubling of the dose for babies and children from 200 IU to 400 IU per day.
According to a review paper, “vitamin D is not only important for calcium metabolism and maintenance of bone health throughout life, but also plays an important role in reducing risk of many chronic diseases including type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, deadly cancers, heart disease and infectious diseases.”
To learn about quality organic sources of vitamins – click here>>
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Cost Of Health Care Undecided – 9 A Day Plus Vitamins Are Nature’s Way To Health
by THP
Filed under Breaking News
Take Control Of Your Money And Health
Q: President Obama has repeatedly mentioned reducing “unwarranted” subsidies to private insurance companies under Medicare. Does this mean that the Medicare Advantage plans will disappear or become less common?
PAUL EKLOF, Petaluma
A: While reductions in Medicare Advantage payments are being discussed as part of the health care reform debate, it is too early to know how any such changes, if passed, would affect Medicare beneficiaries. We won’t know the impact of any payment reductions to Medicare plans until Congress agrees on the magnitude, mechanisms and timeline for implementation.
Some proposals currently under consideration could result in increased premiums and/or cost sharing for Medicare beneficiaries. We hope that any changes will be moderate and phased in over time. This balanced approach would help mitigate the adverse financial impact on seniors.
Related proposals in Congress would limit the reduction in payments to plans that demonstrate a higher quality of care. We encourage Congress to move in that direction. Paying high-performing Medicare Advantage plans a quality bonus could reduce the adverse financial impact on seniors in these plans and also encourage all plans to focus even more on improving the quality of care delivered to Medicare beneficiaries, which will benefit seniors enrolled in those plans and the country as a whole.
- Tony Barrueta, vice president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan & Hospitals
This article appeared on page F – 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle
As the nation wrestles with the complex issue of health care reform, The Chronicle is asking readers to submit their questions so we all can understand what reform means. If you have a question, please e-mail forum@sfchronicle.com.
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Some Vitamins Are Hazardous To Your Health
by THP
Filed under Health & Wellness
As posted in the Monday, March 20, 2006 Wall Street Journal article by Tara Parker-Pope, some vitamins can be hazardous to your health. Most people are not aware that many of the synthetic vitamins, including some of the highly advertised “name brands” are processed in a laboratory at high temperatures, contain petroleum derived chemical solvents, such as ethyl cellulose, coal tar and acetone and are coated with methylene chloride, a carcinogenic material.
Rather than being whole-food natural vitamin complexes they are fractionated chemicals…..only fractional portions of the whole. Take a look at this….what do these words mean to you?
Pryidoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Thiamine Chloride, Cobalamin, Cyanocobalamin, Palmitate, Acetate, Menadione, Phytonadione, Cholecalciferol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Buffered Ascorbic Acid, , Riboflavin, d-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, dl-alpha Tocopherol, Alpha-tocopherol, Succinate, Choline Bitartrate, Pteroylglutamic Acid.
Each one of these words refers to vitamins….vitamins that are in a synthetic, fractionated form. They are made from dead chemicals in a laboratory…not from living whole food like fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. A list of these words looks more like a chemistry class text book than something good and nutritious to eat!
Now look at these words….what do they mean to you?
Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate, Calcium Ascorbate, Calcium Pantothenate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Iodide, Ferrous Gluconate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Gluconate, Copper Citrate, Magnesium Phosphate, Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Borate, Manganese Citrate, Manganese Glycerophosphate, Potassium Borate, Chromium Polynicotinate, Molybdenum Trioxide, L-Selenomethionine, Sodium Selenite, Vanadyl Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, and Zinc Acetate.
These words all refer to synthetic, inorganic mineral salts. Each one of these substances are also made in a laboratory…..they are chemical based. Again, it looks more like the readings from your chemistry class than actually eating something nutritious!
Is it possible that in the name of “good health and nutrition”, we are literally over-dosing on synthetic, fractionated and inorganic, laboratory produced ingredients? These chemical substances may quite possibly be building up unnecessary amounts of toxins in our liver and thus may possibly be contributing to a wide variety of physical ailments.
According to Dr. Zoltan P. Rona, M.D., “Although most healthy people will have no obvious side effects from ingesting small amounts of toxins found in cheap (fractionated/synthetic) vitamins, the long term consequences of continuous, daily intakes are potentially dangerous. Over 7% of the population displays sensitivity to these chemicals.” Dr. Rona continues to say, “That allergic reactions include fatigue, memory loss, depression and insomnia”.
Let’s look at some additional facts:
- Look at your cereal box, look at your bread, look at your milk…..now go read the label on your vitamin/mineral/antioxidant supplement that is sitting in your cupboard. Except for some possible added “food derived” antioxidants and some possible herbal additives, they are IDENTICAL! Could it be that we are over dosing on synthetic chemicals that just might be contributing to a buildup of liver toxins?
- We have been told for years that we can get all the vitamins and minerals we need if we eat a balanced diet. Not true! More than 90% of Americans don’t eat the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables. And even if we try our best to eat more vegetables, the ones we purchase in the produce department don’t have the vitamins and minerals that they had 40 or 50 years ago….over the years soils have become severely depleted of these life sustaining nutrients.
- In Department of Agriculture studies of 50,000 persons performed in the 1980’s, not one person was getting the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of the 10 essential vitamins found in whole foods….specifically fruits and vegetables. In many cases the RDA of vitamins and minerals from whole food sources as produced today, is insufficient for optimum health. Therefore, is a multi vitamin/mineral nutritional supplement advisable? Yes, highly advisable, but the right kind!
Get educated if you are supplementing your diet. Learn more about what you are putting in your body. Click Here To Learn More
