| The year was 2002 when the American Medical | | | | mg.), Vitamin B-5 (50 - 100 mg.), Vitamin B-6 (50 - 100 |
| Association (AMA) reversed its stance regarding the | | | | mg.), Vitamin B-12 (200 - 400 mcg.), Biotin (400 - 800 |
| use of vitamin supplements and advised every | | | | mcg.), Choline (50 - 200 mg.), Folic Acid (400 - 800 |
| American to take at least one multi-vitamin a day! For | | | | mcg.), Inositol (50 - 200 mg.), PABA (10 50 mg.), Vitamin |
| the previous 20 years, the AMA had promoted an | | | | C (1,000 - 3,000 mg.), Vitamin D-3 (400 I.U.), Vitamin E |
| official anti-vitamin-supplement policy and offered their | | | | (200 - 400 I.U.), Vitamin K (100 - 500 mcg.). |
| scorn to those who suggested that vitamin | | | | Natural Vitamins or Synthetic? |
| supplementation offered any health benefits. | | | | You will find that vitamin supplements are divided into |
| Their 2002 announcement was vindication for the | | | | two groups: synthetic and natural. The synthetic |
| many health professionals who had advocated the | | | | vitamins are produced in laboratories from isolated |
| use of vitamin supplements while for years enduring | | | | chemicals and mirror their counterparts found in nature. |
| the criticism of the U.S. health establishment. Finally, the | | | | Natural vitamins are derived from food sources. |
| AMA was admitting that the American diet alone does | | | | Chemically, there may be no difference, but synthetic |
| not provide adequate nutrition for optimum health. | | | | vitamins contain only the isolated vitamin while natural |
| However, their announcement stopped short of | | | | supplements may contain other synergistic nutrients |
| explaining what the true role of vitamin supplements | | | | not yet discovered. |
| should be. | | | | Generally, it is believed that synthetic and natural |
| Vitamin Amounts - How Much Is Enough? | | | | vitamins perform the same, but two noted exceptions |
| Data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture | | | | are vitamins D and E. The synthetic forms are |
| revealed that a minimum of 40% of the American | | | | different than their natural counterparts. Most health |
| population consumes a diet that provides only 60% of | | | | care professionals recommend only the natural forms |
| the RDA of ten selected nutrients. This means that | | | | of these two vitamins. Natural vitamin D is identified as |
| half (maybe more) of the U.S. population has a | | | | Vitamin D-3 and Natural Vitamin E is identified as |
| deficiency of at least one vitamin. Now, this by itself | | | | d-alpha (not dl-alpha) tocopherol. |
| sounds startling, but consider this. | | | | Synthetic supplements may also contain coal tars, |
| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration established the | | | | artificial coloring, preservatives, sugars, and starch and |
| RDAs to give guidance for the avoidance of the | | | | other harmful additives. You should also be aware that |
| symptoms of deficiency diseases. For example, the | | | | a supplement may be labeled "natural" and still have |
| RDA of 60 mg. for vitamin C is the daily amount | | | | these harmful additives. Read labels carefully. |
| needed to avoid the symptoms of diseases like | | | | Vitamins found in nature do not exist in free form. |
| beriberi or scurvy. The RDA of 60 mg. is not the | | | | They are protein-bonded. Nutritional studies have |
| amount of vitamin C needed for optimal bodily function. | | | | revealed that protein-bonded vitamins, such as found in |
| Health professionals routinely recommend a minimum | | | | whole food supplements, are best absorbed, utilized |
| daily intake of 1,000 mg. of vitamin C and 3,000 - 5,000 | | | | and retained in body tissues better than vitamins that |
| mg. daily is common. | | | | are not protein-bonded. Vitamins and minerals found in |
| The RDA for vitamin B-1 is 1.5 mg.; amounts of 50 - | | | | food are bonded to proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and |
| 100 mg. daily are recommended by health | | | | bioflavonoids. Chemically derived vitamins are not |
| professionals. The RDA for vitamin B-6 is 2 mg.; | | | | protein-bonded. |
| amounts of 50 - 100 mg daily are recommended. The | | | | What About Minerals? |
| RDA for vitamin B-12 is 6 mcg.; amounts of 200 - 400 | | | | Excesses of isolated vitamins or minerals can cause |
| mcg. daily are recommended. | | | | the same symptoms as the deficiency of vitamins or |
| A similar finding is true for all the RDA amounts | | | | minerals. Therefore, having the correct balance of |
| established for vitamins and mineral supplements. This | | | | vitamins and minerals is very important. |
| means that an ordinary OTC "multi-vitamin" promoting | | | | It is best to select a broad spectrum multi-vitamins / |
| the old RDAs will offer only minimal benefits. When | | | | minerals supplement because there is a cooperative |
| you select a multiple-vitamins supplement, you will want | | | | action between certain vitamins and minerals. For |
| to choose one that offers a high enough daily dosage | | | | example, the following shows the relationship between |
| to provide nutrient amounts that enable good health. | | | | a listed vitamin and the nutrient(s) required for |
| Before using any supplements, you should consult with | | | | assimilation: Vitamin A (plus choline, essential fatty |
| your doctor or health care professional, but here is a | | | | acids, vitamin C, D and E), Vitamin B complex (plus |
| partial list of nutrient amounts you can use as a guide: | | | | calcium, vitamin C and E), Vitamin B6 (plus potassium, |
| Vitamin A (5,000 to 10,000 I.U.), Vitamin B-1 (50 - 100 | | | | vitamin B complex, vitamin C). |
| mg.), Vitamin B-2 (15 - 50 mg.), Vitamin B-3 (15 - 50 | | | | |