Benefits of Vitamins?

Of course vitamins (13 acknowledged molecules called “vitamins” are essential for our health) and so are a multitude (1,000’s) of other molecules, but only if you are deficient in them.  Yet, we take the approach that “the more, the better” – not true.  More of any vitamin or mineral maybe better than, the same as, or worse than the amount you are already taking.  More does not necessarily mean better, yet this is our societal assumption!

 I have written numerous blogs and medical news articles about this reality.  Nonetheless, we see articles like today’s news story, “Little benefit is seen to vitamin pills”.  Sounds informative, but is that statement true?  NO.  Yes, it may be true if you already have the full complement and optimal amount of vitamins and minerals, but what if you are deficient.  According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s studies many if not most Americans are deficient in essential nutrients, up to 90% deficient!

The problem with all vitamin studies is that: 1) Researchers do not know where a person is starting or has been with respect to any given vitamin, 2) Is a given person deficient or exposed to an excess of any given vitamin on a regular basis, 3) Studies are too short to fully evaluate whether any vitamin is beneficial for any disease or not (this could require 60+ years of controlled data or more), and there are 100’s or more confounding factors not controlled for in any nutritional study.

Nonetheless, it is safe to say that most Americans could and would benefit from some vitamins and minerals since our foods (even organic) and water (tap, mineral or bottles) are severely lacking.

Darrell L. Tanelian, M.D., Ph.D.