Posted on 12/18/2013 8:57:00 PM PST by artichokegrower
Q
uestions about the health benefits of vitamin supplements have been percolating in the medical establishment for decades — even as the multivitamin industry has grown to a multi-billion powerhouse in the U.S. This week, the respected journal the Annals of Internal Medicine put its well-heeled foot down.
"We believe that the case is closed — supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful," the journal said in an editorial. "These vitamins should not be used for chronic disease prevention. Enough is enough."
Here's Dr. Edgar Miller of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, one of the editorial's five co-authors: "What will protect you is if you spend the money on fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, low fat dairy, things like that," Miller tells CBS News. "Exercising would probably be a better use of the money." The only exceptions are folic acid for pregnant women and, possibly, vitamin D — the studies are mixed on its benefits and risks.
Assuming Miller and his colleagues are right — and they base their assertion on three large, recent studies — Americans have been wasting lots of money on vitamins. About half of U.S. adults take dietary supplements, and the vitamin industry has grown to $12 billion a year for vitamins alone and about $30 billion for all dietary supplements. That's just in the U.S.
(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...
I’m 44 too. Fat, depressed and I take vitamins, probabaly 6-10 per day. Other than my coke, weed and booze issues, I’m healthy as a horse.
I had the same results with the glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. Six months ago my knee was so bad that I could barely walk 200 metres. After four months of 1500mg/1200mg of the above daily, I can now easily walk 5 km carrying my grandson. The supplements cost me around US$100 in total, and I never bothered with going to a doctor. All considered, a good deal!
I heard that interview. I like Dr. Wallach. He says a lot of things we think are genetic diseases are actually vitamin/mineral deficiencies. He also called Jerry Lewis and explained the truth behind MD and it can be prevented and cured. Jerry Lewis was fired from the MD Foundation for this. No money in cures.
I think today’s healthcare is about managing disease with drugs, not actual cures.
I think today’s healthcare is trying to change the focus from patient/doctor to insurance co/government/doctor. The model will result in primary dollars being shifted to “wellness” or political issues as the primary focus of real dollars and individual patient outcomes will be hidden in a sea of bizarre cost accounting that NO ONE could understand or evaluate. Note an example is HMO selling glasses that have a $150 coverage with a final cost to the patient of $350 where just going to glasses store with script will cost $100 for the same glasses. The same happens with hearing aids. Other devices are similarly price fixed with the blessing of a government monopoly. The Affordable Crappy Healthcare Insurance Act actually is selling a wellness program combined with catastrophic health insurance. If you or I decided to deceive the public like this, I’d turn you over to the state’s Insurance Commissioner. But since he is in charge of the program...
DK
Of course if you want REAL health care, you can pay for it, on top of paying for the insurance.
It's far more insidious than a bribe to Big Pharma, they're implementing Agenda 21- population control. This is death panels for those of us who, through nutritional supplements, remain fairly independent of the health care system.
There are some supplements that I’ve found have a tangible effect - melatonin for sleep, DHEA and Tribulis Terrestris for male energy, and COQ10 for general vitality.
I can get decent over-the-counter readers for $10-22, or pay $150-350 for prescription lenses and frames. Yes, the prescription lenses are better quality, but not $200 better.
no offense, i do not believethis bullsh1t. pharma’s been gunning to destroy supplements for decades. they work, they have far far less, if any, side effects than drugs, and are inexpensive compard to drugs.
fricking sesame seeds taken each daycanreducepain better than msm plus a prescriptiondrug.
I wholeheartedly agree.
look at their 100% correct advice on eggs. on carbs. on fat. on meat. on butter vs butter-flavored plastic.
fu pop-science idiots.
Good catch on his fortified milk slip. I notice one of the other guys specifically says “low fat” dairy. The Swedish gov is in the process of ditching its previous low fat/high carb dietary recommendations, so who’s right? I just think these experts should spare us their lectures.
Exactly... since vitamins aren’t under their control they don’t reap the monetary benefits so they come up with studies saying they don’t work.
There was a guy who sat next to me in my office. If I didn’t know he worked at my company, I would have thought he was a salesman for GNC. He kept telling me that I need to take “fish oil” supplement, supplements for anti-oxidents and omega 3s. I said, can’t get I get fish oil from the fish I eat a few times a week, anti-oxidents from the berries I eat all week. He also said I should be taking multi-vitamins.
To be honest, I think GNC is the modern day “Snake oil saleman.”
I don’t take vitamin supplements but I do take a strong anti-oxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
This has been a miracle for me. For several years I could barely walk in the morning due to intense leg pain from an old sports injury. Within a week of taking the anti-oxidant, my pain had virtually disappeared and has not returned for almost three years now.
Out of curiosity,, what is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties? I have a similar problem and am not interested in cortisone shots.
I think most vegans are liberals. This biggest motive, thought they wll not admit it, is trying to “out liberal” one of their friends.
I do know that omega 3 fatty acids help with inflammation and coronary artery disease.
” It appears money spent on them quite literally is down the toilet.”
Three years ago I was having heart problems, discomfort, numbness and difficulty sleeping. I spent over $1000 on a doctor-recommended cardiac stress test and was told I was fine yet the problems remained. ~That~ money went down the toilet.
On advice of a FReeper I started taking magnesium and potassium supplements which were3 >500% of recommended daily amounts. My heart issues decreased immediately and have continued to improve over the last 3 years.
Astaxanthin
Available in most vitamin stores with a little searching
Define "well-nourished".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.