The American Medical Association acknowledges the role of vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults.  In the scientific review article, the researchers wrote that the North American diet is generally sufficient to prevent overt vitamin deficiency diseases such as pellagra, scurvy, and beriberi. However, they explain, “recent evidence has shown that suboptimal levels of vitamins, even well above those causing deficiency syndromes, are associated with increased risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis.” In a clinical commentary, they note that “a large proportion of the general population” has less-than-optimal intakes of a number of vitamins, exposing them to increased disease risk. In addition, they counsel that, “it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements.”

Recent reports have shown that half of all Americans take a multi vitamin, many also take individual vitamin supplements. and roughly one in five U.S. adults uses herbal supplements.  While many people choose to spend their hard earned money on products to improve their health, over half of the supplements consumed did not break down effectively.  A consumerlab.com report showed that some of the vitamins tested did not break down within the thirty minute standard set by the United States Pharmacopeia.  For example, Nature’s Plus For Women required more than an hour to disentigrate in the body, and  AARP Maturity Formula took 50 minutes.  Dr Tod Cooperman, president of consumerlab.com has stated that the products may potentially go through the body without releasing all or any of the nutrients.  In other findings from consumerlab.com, the vitamin shoppe multi vitamins Especially for Women was contaminated with lead .  This amount of lead is more than 10 times the amount permitted without a warning in California, the only state that regulates lead in supplements, Cooperman said (1).

Supplements used to fall under the category of drugs. Like making drugs, the FDA used to approve all supplements, and you had to prove your product was safe and effective before you started selling it.   Like making drugs, the FDA used to approve all supplements, and you had to prove your product was safe and effective before you started selling it.  In the early 1990s, senator Orrin Hatch decided to de-regulate the supplement industry, and allow less oversight.  As a result, Food Grade GMP standards are only required to have 20% of what they say is on the label actually in the tablet.  One common practice by vitamin and supplement companies is “pixie dusting,” where you do not have to disclose the real formulas and ingredients.

Another concern about many name brand supplements is that they are formulated to RDA levels that were formulated in the 1940s to prevent soldiers from getting sick.  It was determined that 60mg of vitamin C would prevent a soldier from getting scurvy.  People are no longer dying from diseases such as scurvy, rickets  or malaria.  Instead, degenerative diseases such as cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes are the leading causes of death. Oxidative stress is  one of the leading causes of degenerative disease, and occurs when In a study published in the American Joournal of clinical nutrition investigators noted that high vitamin C levels may reflect healthy lifstyles and possible supplementation. They followed 20,649 men for nearly 10 years. People with the highest levels of Vitamin C had a 42% lower risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest levels of vitamin C.- Myint Pk, Luben RN, et al. Plasma vitamin C concentrations predict risk of incidence over 10 years. AM Jrn cln nutrition 2008 Jan; 87.  Similarly, the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E is 20 IUs, a health benefit is not shown until 100IUs and the optimal amount of vitamin E is 400 IUs (2).

Thankfully not all supplements are made the same.  Their are companies that are committed to the science of cellular nutrition and giving our bodies the optimal amount of nutrients it needs to support and promote cellular health.  Many of the top nutritional and wellness companies have research partnerships with leading Universities and medical institutions such as the university of Utah, University of Sydney, University of Colorado Denver and others that study the benefits of micro nutrients and its impact on cellular health.

According to Dr.  Myron Wentz, expert in cellular health, cellular nutrition means ensuring that the cells of our bodies receive all the nutrients they need for performing all cellular functions.  Preparing and regenerating functions and preventing oxidative damage.  The nutrients need to be in the correct forms, the right amounts and the proper balance.

Because of this, it is essential we choose nutritional products that are science based and formulated to give our bodies and cells the optimal amount of nutrients needed to support and promote cellular health.  According to nutritional expert Dr Ray Strand,  “Cellular nutrition would be defined as providing all of the essential micro nutrients to the cells to have a benefit, as shown in medical literature.  Just as you would like your diet to be balanced and complete, it is important for supplementation to be complete as well.  The main difference is the fact that supplementation can help provide essential nutrients at optimal levels.  Cellular nutrition has been shown in our medical literature to build up our body’s natural immune system, antioxidant system and repair system.  You not only replenish any nutritional deficiency within 6 months of supplementation, but you also optimize all of the body’s micro nutrients.  Nutritional supplements are natural to the body and the nutrients the body requires to function at the optimal level.” (3)

As with any type of important purchase, it is imperative to do the proper due diligence and research to make sure you are getting the best product for your money and your body.   A good resource to learn about different brands and types of supplements is the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements that is published by the Nutrisearch Corporation.

ConsumerLab.com, LLC (“CL”) is also a great resource.  Consumerlab.com is a  leading provider of independent test results and information to help consumers and healthcare professionals identify the best quality health and nutrition products. It publishes results of its tests in comprehensive reports at www.consumerlab.com. CL also conducts an annual Survey of Vitamin & Supplement Users.CL’s research is cited frequently by the media, in books, and at professional meetings. In addition to the products it selects to review, CL enables companies of all sizes to have their products quality tested for potential inclusion in its list of Approved Quality products and bear the CL Seal. Since its founding in 1999, CL has tested more than 4,400 products, representing over 450 different brands and nearly every type of popular supplement for adults, children, and pets. CL also publishes its results for consumers in China at cn.ConsumerLab.com. (4)

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(1) http://www.paulzanepilzer.com/successhomedec05-htmhttp://www.nbcnews.com/id/16655168/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/vitamin-day-may-do-more-harm-good/#.Vqu1uLIrKUk