No supplements required!?!

I see in the press this week that 2 different research strands have concluded that taking supplements if you are a 'well-nourished adult' is pointless and may be 'dangerous'. I suppose the essential caveat missing is 'if you are well'. How do these people sleep at night?

[Marz]

...probably ghost writers paid by the drug companies. I visited a Bowen Therapist whilst in the UK recently and he suggested a supplement for me. On researching its availability I found it unavailable on most sites. However one did say it was due to a ruling from Brussels. Keep signing the petitions to retain our freedom to choose supplements. BIG Pharma has done a great job of manipulating governments - I think it is called bribery....

[Angel_of_the_North]

Check who funded the studies and what supplements they tested. Probably the food or pharmaceutical industry and what they tested were synthetic partial vitamins (like Centrum etc) made from petroleum derivatives. And who is well-nourished on today's factory-farmed food?!

Yes, synthetic alpha tocopherol can be dangerous (fake vitamin E), as can other partial vitamins, which is why you should take good supplements if you need them that contain the complete vitamin as far as possible.

[waveylines]

Hmmmm- maybe they hadn't read the research that states that our fruit and veg contain 40% less vits and minerals then it did back in 1940's...... And of course supplements are 'dangerous' if taken to excess....

I wonder who they are funded by these researchers.....

[Yana]

Makes me wonder why it's recommended that pregnant women take extra folic acid if we don't need supplements? I know vitamin B12 deficiency is different than most vitamin deficiencies but there is clearly a need for supplements.

There was a recent article in the Daily Mirror. Dr Miriam Stoppard's blog with a question and answer. Question was: Why do I constantly get sores at the corners of my mouth? Answer: This condition is diagnosed of pernicious anemia which is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12.

If you have pernicious anemia, you will find that the surface of your tongue is always very smooth and this condition extends to the intestine, which is unable to absorb vitamin B12 from food. This particular type of anemia can be very severe and it may also affect the nerves in the hands and feet, which can tingle and even go numb.

However, it is easy to treat. All you need is an injection of vitamin B12 once a month. It isn't painful and will give you a new lease of life. But you will need it for the rest of your life.