It's Happened Again!

It's happened again. Someone has decided to issue another report
that vitamins are bad for you.

Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D., a Yahoo! Health Expert for
Nutrition, reports that multivitamins are a waste of time and
money. The good doctor writes about an article featured in the
February 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
"Multivitamin use did not protect the 161,808 postmenopausal
women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Study from
common forms of cancer, heart attacks, or strokes. And the
numbers of deaths during the 8 years of the study were the same
in vitamin users as in non-users. Still, it is important to
recognize that this was an observational study, not a more
meaningful clinical trial. Although these findings apply only
to women, other studies have failed to show benefits of
multivitamins in older men."

He also states that doctors have been prescribing vitamins B6,
B12 and folic acid in hopes of preventing heart attacks and
strokes by lowering blood levels of homocysteine (an amino acid
in the blood that is associated with heart attacks). He
contends that these supplements do lower homocysteine levels,
but do not prevent heart attacks or strokes. Additionally, he
jumps on the band wagon with those who proclaim that not only
are vitamin E and beta carotene not helpful, but they may
actually be harmful.

Let's look at this with a clinical eye. Do any of these studies
take into effect genetic predisposition, health status of the
individual (height-to-weight ratio, BMI), type of nutritional
intake? For example, if I'm an overweight male who eats
horribly and drinks alcohol several times a week, it is very
unlikely that all the B6, B12 or folic acid in the world would
help me. But if I just need some extra vitamins to supplement
what I eat or to fill a particular deficiency that I have, they
may make a big difference in my health.

I am always interested when I see these types of articles
online or in the newspapers. It seems we never get the full
story. Why is it we rarely hear about the ill effects of
prescription medications? Remember hormone replacement therapy
(HRT)? Oops, sorry we gave you breast cancer. How about birth
defects from thalidomide? Oops, sorry again. What about recent
reports that statins can cause muscle pain and fatigue?

Please do not misunderstand me. As I have stated in previous
broadcasts, I am all for medication when appropriately
indicated. And it's the same for multivitamins and supplements.
When appropriately used, vitamins and supplements play an
important role in living a healthier life.

I do feel that often people take too many of the wrong
supplements. They primarily take what is marketed to them
without getting expert advice.

Dr. Margolis writes the following: "No one denies that an
adequate intake of vitamins is essential; however, vitamins can
and should be obtained from eating enough healthy foods rather
than from swallowing vitamin supplements."

And herein lies the problem.

Most of us do not eat "enough" healthy foods. Most of our food
is laden with preservatives and chemicals. The ingredient list
on most of our food reads like a college chemistry course.

When you are ready to include vitamins and supplements as part
of your nutritional intake you should consider your current
lifestyle, health goals, and genetic predisposition. Is high
blood pressure or diabetes prevalent in your family medical
history? Do you work long hours and feel fatigue during or at
the end of your day? Are you pregnant or have you just given
birth? Are you overweight? Do you suffer from any injuries?

If you are thinking about adding vitamins and supplements as
part of your lifestyle, consider a consultation with a
certified nutritionist. I would recommend finding one who
works with an array of doctors. You also want someone who does
not feel that all symptoms can be cured by vitamins and
supplements and who does not hesitate to enlist the help of the
appropriate doctors when a medical evaluation is called for.

That's it for now.

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results