[Anonymous August 6, 1998 at 8:51 pm Post count: 93172]

#1050024

Superfluous Supplements?

Vitamin supplements have become a $12 billion industry in the U.S.
But for most Americans, they’re a waste of money, and may even be
dangerous.

by Benjamin Caballero, M.D., Ph.D.

The Surgeon General has never recommended that healthy adults take
vitamin supplements. Nor has the American Medical Association, the
National Cancer Institute, the Food and Nutrition Board, or any other
association that establishes our nation’s dietary guidelines or health policies.
Yet half of all Americans regularly consume vitamin supplements and other
“nutriceuticals” such as herbs — many in response to widely publicized reports
that large doses of certain nutrients may offer protection against diseases such
as heart disease and cancer.

. . . But in many cases, the $12 billion that Americans spend each year on
these supplements is a waste of money.

. . . It’s true that some studies show that certain nutrients may provide some
protection against heart disease, cancer and other conditions, particularly the
antioxidant vitamins C, E and beta-carotene in doses greater than the
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).

. . . But there are also controversial results, including one study that found that
smokers taking beta-carotene supplements had an increased incidence of lung
cancer compared to those who didn’t take the supplements. One theory is
that these long-term smokers may have already had microscopic undiagnosed
lung cancer, and the supplements may have promoted its growth.

. . . Right now, we simply don’t know enough about the long-term effect of
high-dose supplements to recommend that the average healthy American take
them. We do know that many nutrients can cause side effects and other
complications when taken in doses that are 5, 10 or even 20 times above the
RDA.

The Problems with Pills

. . . There are, however, some groups of otherwise healthy people who we
know benefit from supplementation:

Children who are breast-fed should receive supplementation of
vitamins A, C and D, and there is a preparation called Trivisol that is
the standard issue to these babies;

Pregnant and lactating women should take a multivitamin that
contains additional folic acid, iron and calcium beyond what they’d get
from their diet, and most of these women get these supplements from
their doctors;

Elderly people may also benefit from vitamin supplements, because
the aging process does impair the way the body can absorb certain
nutrients. This issue is currently being considered in the ongoing revision
of the RDA’s.

. . . To prevent deficiencies, the average healthy American eating a sensible
diet does not need vitamin supplements. A good diet can provide all the
nutrients your body needs — and “megadoses” of many nutrients are just
eliminated when you urinate. Also, when you eat certain foods, such as fruits
and vegetables, you’re not only getting the essential vitamins and minerals, but
also many different phytochemicals, some of which are believed to help block
the formation of tumors.

. . . The money wasted on high-dose supplements isn’t my only concern about
our nation’s vitamin supplement craze.

Some people have come to rely on supplements as a “magic
bullet.” They assume that if they just pop a pill in the morning, they
may get all the protection they need against diseases like heart disease
and cancer. So they may not be as committed to eating more fruits and
vegetables, exercising one hour every day, quitting smoking and
avoiding some of the high-fat foods that may be contributing to obesity
and other health problems.

The advice people get from the media isn’t always accurate or
complete. For instance, there have been a couple of good studies that
have been publicized in the media showing that large doses of vitamin E
may reduce the risk of some forms of cancer, so it’s very
understandable that many people want to take vitamin E supplements.
The potential adverse effects of high-dose vitamin E (and other
vitamins) are not always publicized. Vitamin E can impair coagulation,
which may increase the risk of bleeding, and could possibly lead to
problems in susceptible persons.

The reported “benefits” advertised in health-food stores of
some vitamins aren’t always based on scientific evidence. Go to
a health food store and you may be led to believe that if you’re feeling
stressed, tired or depressed, you may get relief by taking certain
supplements. That simply isn’t the case, and these claims are sometimes
made because vitamin and herbal supplements currently are not
regulated.

Benjamin Caballero, M.D., Ph.D., is Director of the Johns Hopkins
Division of Human Nutrition and The Center for Human Nutrition. A
Professor of International Health, he serves on the Food and Nutrition
Board, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences that sets
dietary guidelines for the U.S. population.

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