The Washington Post reports that what we don’t know about the benefits of vitamins could fill all of the labels of all of the vitamin bottles in West L.A, but probably won’t, anytime soon. That’s because the "dietary supplement" business is a $23 billion industry, and that kind of money talks only when it wants to, despite a recent call for greater oversight of the vitamin business by specialists at the National Institutes of Health. The Post quotes Dr. J. Michael McGinnis of the Institute of Medicine saying that there is simply not enough evidence to tell if taking vitamins is a good or bad idea, although the NIH panel concluded that some vitamens probably do some good. Here are three:
Women of childbearing age should take folic acid supplements to prevent spina bifida and related birth defects.
Calcium and vitamin D together protect the bones of postmenopausal women.
Antioxidants and zinc may slow the worsening of the blinding disease called age-related macular degeneration.
On the other hand, the paper quotes Cornell University nutritionist Patsy
Brannon worrying that between 1
percent and 11 percent of supplement users may be exceeding the upper
limits set for certain nutrients. Brannon warns that too much niacin can damage the liver, too much vitamin A can cause birth defects, and
too much vitamin E can cause bleeding problems.
If
you choose to take vitamins, says Brannon, use those labeled with 100 percent of the
RDA or "daily value." Together with a good diet, she says, that
would provide most people plenty without getting near the upper limit. Read more in the Post.
Other helpful links:
National Institutes of Health: http:/
Consumer’s Union: http:/
Food and Drug Administration: http:/
Council for Responsible Nutrition: http://www.crnusa.org/
Nutritional Vitamin
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