All Vitamins are not Created Equal.
Willam Bradely asked:
All Vitamins Are Not Created Equal…
(Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth?)
If you can answer the following questions correctly, you have a basic understanding of why all vitamins are not alike.
1) Which vitamin E is synthetic?
a) d-alpha tocopherol
b) dl-alpha tocopherol
2) Which of the following calcium label claims contains only 93 mg. of actual calcium?
a) Calcium (gluconate)………………………..1,000 mg.
b) Calcium gluconate…………………………..1,000 mg.
3) A quality control lab is not required in a vitamin manufacturing facility.
TRUE or FALSE
4) “Natural Vitamin E” on the label means the vitamin E is 100% natural.
TRUE or FALSE
5) By law, the vitamin potency listed on the label must be matched by the product in the bottle.
TRUE or FALSE
6) Do most vitamin companies manufacture their own products?
YES or NO
The standards under which a vitamin or mineral is manufactured vary greatly from one company to another. There are very few companies that actually manufacture their own products.
Quality standards greatly affect how and whether a supplement is absorbed and utilized by the body. A manufacturer can create a tablet that looks identical to a quality product but is nothing more than a replica. Replicas do not deliver the potency and results you desire.
DECEPTIVE LABELING
Reading a label carefully and understanding what the label actually means are important when purchasing any product. This is particularly true when comparing labels on vitamins.
Understanding Mineral Potency (Example: Calcium)
The elemental amount of calcium refers to the exact weight or potency of calcium a formula provides. (The same is true for all other minerals.)
Some labels clearly list the elemental weight and are therefore simple to understand.
Example A:
Elemental Calcium…………………………………………………….250 mg.
(Equivalent to 1,111 mg. Calcium Amino Acid Chelate)
In Example A, you are receiving 250 mg. of actual calcium, and 1,111 mg. refers to the combined weight of the calcium and amino acids.
If the label does not clearly list the elemental amount, you must then have a further understanding of interpreting the label information.
Example B:
Calcium (Gluconate)………………………………………………….1,000 mg.
Example C:
Calcium Gluconate………………………………………………….1,000 mg.
At first glance, Examples B & C appear to be the same formula, but they are not. When, the chelating agent (Example B, gluconate) appears in parentheses, it represents the “source” of the calcium supplied in the formula. The potency of 1,000 mg. listed is the actual amount of elemental calcium you are receiving. However, in Example C, when the chelating agent does not appear in parentheses, the 1,000 mg. represents the weight of the calcium together with gluconic acid, and the amount of calcium you are receiving is only a small percentage of the potency listed. In Example C, you would actually receive only 9.3% or 93 mg. of actual calcium.
Example B is an honest and intelligible label, as it clearly represents the actual amount of elemental calcium the tablet will provide. Example C, although technically not mislabeled, appears to offer much more calcium than is actually provided and is very often misunderstood by consumers.
Natural vs. Synthetic
(Example: Vitamin E)
The word natural can, unfortunately, sometimes be misleading. In the case of vitamin E, a manufacturer can use a blend of 10% natural vitamin E and 90% synthetic vitamin E and still label the product natural vitamin E. using synthetic vitamin E, which is 40% cheaper, a manufacturer can greatly reduce the quality of a product to reduce his manufacturing cost.
To protect the consumer, a manufacturer should properly list the chemical name in the contents description. Natural vitamin E begins with d; synthetic begins with dl.
“Natural vitamin E is officially recognized as having 36% greater potency than its synthetic counterpart…However, recent studies of human subjects indicate that natural vitamin E is probably twice as effective as synthetic vitamin E.”
These are just two examples of how to properly read a vitamin label. Your best source of educational support is your health care practitioner. Your practitioner should be able to provide you with even further information verifying why all vitamins are not created equal.
Government Standards
FACT: A consumer would assume that a vitamin contains the potency listed on the label.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: Only 90% of the vitamin potency listed on the label has to be in a product at the time of shipping.
FACT: A vitamin starts losing its potency the minute it’s made. If not manufactured properly, a vitamin can be up to 50% weaker than the label claim by the time you purchase the product.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: There are only minimal government guidelines, not requirements, regarding product storage (light, temperature, moisture, etc.), inventory rotation, particle granulation or product coating, all of which affect the potency and quality of a vitamin.
FACT: Even though vitamins are perishable items, manufacturers are not required to prove that their products last for an extended period of time. Remember, light, heat, moisture and oxidation rapidly destroy vitamin potency.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: After a vitamin is manufactured, vitamin companies are not required to conduct shelf life testing to see how product potency is affected over time.
FACT: Even though vitamin supplements are essential to your health, there is no law requiring that vitamin supplements be tested during the manufacturing process.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: A quality control laboratory is not required in a vitamin manufacturing facility.
(How do you manufacture quality vitamins without a quality control laboratory? Good question! Moreover, most vitamin companies do not even manufacture their own products.)
Here is how you can check if a company manufactures its own products. If a product is actually made by the company, the label should say “Manufactured by______________.” Manufacturing the product is the first step in quality control. Companies that have their products manufactured by a private label house and just market the products must use phrases such as “Manufactured for ________________,” “Distributed by _____________,” or any other wording that expresses these facts.
ARE YOU GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH?
Several years ago, a visiting scholar at Rockefeller university in New York City and a noted author of many books on nutrition, Dr. Michael Colgan, had researched the effects of vitamins. The following is an excerpt from his findings as published in an Omni magazine article.
“…And the food-processing industry? Oh, they’re interested in my work,” Colgan smiles. “They offer me weekends, give me the stretch-limousine treatment. Actually, though, I’m more disillusioned by drug companies that make vitamins. Many are run by people who know nothing about nutrition, have not one qualified person on the executive staff. Or, if they have, these people spend all their time in other research and never come in contact with the vitamins that are being produced by the firm. There is so much rubbish on the market,” he adds abruptly. “The majority of vitamins in health-food stores are rubbish!”
WHAT IS A REPLICA?
A replica is a poor copy of an original, always reproduced by those who lack the creativity of the originator. unfortunately, since it is not their creation, they also lack the pride and know-how that go hand in hand with original creativity.
Since the very purpose of a replica is to mimic the outward appearance of the real thing and to make money by passing off a poor copy, corners are always cut to make a greater profit at the expense of quality. A replica is a sham, which attempts to make up in appearance what it lacks in substance.
Honest Representations
As long as the product you’ve purchased has been honestly represented as an imitation and you’ve paid a fraction of the cost of the original, you have not been taken advantage of. You have knowingly sacrificed quality for price by your own choice.
When A Replica Is Sold As The Real Thing…Look Out!
Whenever someone is passing off a replica as an original or attempting to say that the replica is equal in quality to the original, LOOK OuT, because a fraud is being committed at your expense. If the price you pay for a replica is half the price of the real thing but the quality is only 5% of the real thing, you have still paid 10 times too much. Since you’ve been promised quality and you did not get what you expected, you have been deceived and cheated. We’ve all had the experience of buying a copy of a product for less money and coming home to find that this replica lacked substance, lacked quality, and most importantly did not produce the results expected from the original, and we had in fact been taken advantage of.
Why Do companies Make Replicas?
Companies make replicas primarily for one reason…to make money. These companies have no investment and therefore take no pride in the product they sell, sacrificing quality for the greatest profit.
These dollar-oriented operators have no understanding of the health food industry, have no investment in the industry, and therefore have nothing to lose. They have no interest in you the consumer, but they do have a clear interest in making money at your expense.
When You Buy A Vitamin Replica, You Are Losing A Great Deal More Than Just Your Money
Those of us who are concerned enough about our families to pay the extra money for the added benefits of natural vitamins go into a health food store not just to purchase vitamins but also to seek the specific health benefits that those vitamins will produce for ourselves and our families. Some call this the “Feeling of Nutritional Well Being”.
“The Feeling of Nutritional Well Being” is the very quality of your life. It would be a tragedy to experiment with replicas at the expense of your most valuable treasures…the health and well-being of both you and your family.
Are Your Vitamins Releasing The Energy You Need?
Since most vitamins cannot be manufactured in the body, they must be supplied by our diet. Vitamins are essential to release energy in foods. But our food supply does not guarantee the potency of vitamins. Therefore, a guarantee of potency from the company that supplies your vitamins is essential. This guarantee of potency is vital for the increased energy and feeling of well-being you are seeking. “When a vitamin is in short supply, the lack of a functional coenzyme handicaps a reaction in the pathway. The overall effect of the deficiency is diminished energy production.”
The decrease in energy from the lack of proper nutrition sometimes surfaces in obvious forms such as scurvy or rickets. But often the symptoms of the lack of a vitamin are much more subtle. “Since nerve cells are particularly sensitive to a decreased energy supply, they reflect deficiencies rather rapidly. Irritability, lethargy, apathy, fatigue, and nervous disorders are typical B-vitamin deficiencies.”
Checkout my site Right Here Don’t Wait
The Biggest Loser
All Vitamins Are Not Created Equal…
(Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth?)
If you can answer the following questions correctly, you have a basic understanding of why all vitamins are not alike.
1) Which vitamin E is synthetic?
a) d-alpha tocopherol
b) dl-alpha tocopherol
2) Which of the following calcium label claims contains only 93 mg. of actual calcium?
a) Calcium (gluconate)………………………..1,000 mg.
b) Calcium gluconate…………………………..1,000 mg.
3) A quality control lab is not required in a vitamin manufacturing facility.
TRUE or FALSE
4) “Natural Vitamin E” on the label means the vitamin E is 100% natural.
TRUE or FALSE
5) By law, the vitamin potency listed on the label must be matched by the product in the bottle.
TRUE or FALSE
6) Do most vitamin companies manufacture their own products?
YES or NO
The standards under which a vitamin or mineral is manufactured vary greatly from one company to another. There are very few companies that actually manufacture their own products.
Quality standards greatly affect how and whether a supplement is absorbed and utilized by the body. A manufacturer can create a tablet that looks identical to a quality product but is nothing more than a replica. Replicas do not deliver the potency and results you desire.
DECEPTIVE LABELING
Reading a label carefully and understanding what the label actually means are important when purchasing any product. This is particularly true when comparing labels on vitamins.
Understanding Mineral Potency (Example: Calcium)
The elemental amount of calcium refers to the exact weight or potency of calcium a formula provides. (The same is true for all other minerals.)
Some labels clearly list the elemental weight and are therefore simple to understand.
Example A:
Elemental Calcium…………………………………………………….250 mg.
(Equivalent to 1,111 mg. Calcium Amino Acid Chelate)
In Example A, you are receiving 250 mg. of actual calcium, and 1,111 mg. refers to the combined weight of the calcium and amino acids.
If the label does not clearly list the elemental amount, you must then have a further understanding of interpreting the label information.
Example B:
Calcium (Gluconate)………………………………………………….1,000 mg.
Example C:
Calcium Gluconate………………………………………………….1,000 mg.
At first glance, Examples B & C appear to be the same formula, but they are not. When, the chelating agent (Example B, gluconate) appears in parentheses, it represents the “source” of the calcium supplied in the formula. The potency of 1,000 mg. listed is the actual amount of elemental calcium you are receiving. However, in Example C, when the chelating agent does not appear in parentheses, the 1,000 mg. represents the weight of the calcium together with gluconic acid, and the amount of calcium you are receiving is only a small percentage of the potency listed. In Example C, you would actually receive only 9.3% or 93 mg. of actual calcium.
Example B is an honest and intelligible label, as it clearly represents the actual amount of elemental calcium the tablet will provide. Example C, although technically not mislabeled, appears to offer much more calcium than is actually provided and is very often misunderstood by consumers.
Natural vs. Synthetic
(Example: Vitamin E)
The word natural can, unfortunately, sometimes be misleading. In the case of vitamin E, a manufacturer can use a blend of 10% natural vitamin E and 90% synthetic vitamin E and still label the product natural vitamin E. using synthetic vitamin E, which is 40% cheaper, a manufacturer can greatly reduce the quality of a product to reduce his manufacturing cost.
To protect the consumer, a manufacturer should properly list the chemical name in the contents description. Natural vitamin E begins with d; synthetic begins with dl.
“Natural vitamin E is officially recognized as having 36% greater potency than its synthetic counterpart…However, recent studies of human subjects indicate that natural vitamin E is probably twice as effective as synthetic vitamin E.”
These are just two examples of how to properly read a vitamin label. Your best source of educational support is your health care practitioner. Your practitioner should be able to provide you with even further information verifying why all vitamins are not created equal.
Government Standards
FACT: A consumer would assume that a vitamin contains the potency listed on the label.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: Only 90% of the vitamin potency listed on the label has to be in a product at the time of shipping.
FACT: A vitamin starts losing its potency the minute it’s made. If not manufactured properly, a vitamin can be up to 50% weaker than the label claim by the time you purchase the product.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: There are only minimal government guidelines, not requirements, regarding product storage (light, temperature, moisture, etc.), inventory rotation, particle granulation or product coating, all of which affect the potency and quality of a vitamin.
FACT: Even though vitamins are perishable items, manufacturers are not required to prove that their products last for an extended period of time. Remember, light, heat, moisture and oxidation rapidly destroy vitamin potency.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: After a vitamin is manufactured, vitamin companies are not required to conduct shelf life testing to see how product potency is affected over time.
FACT: Even though vitamin supplements are essential to your health, there is no law requiring that vitamin supplements be tested during the manufacturing process.
GOVERNMENT STANDARD: A quality control laboratory is not required in a vitamin manufacturing facility.
(How do you manufacture quality vitamins without a quality control laboratory? Good question! Moreover, most vitamin companies do not even manufacture their own products.)
Here is how you can check if a company manufactures its own products. If a product is actually made by the company, the label should say “Manufactured by______________.” Manufacturing the product is the first step in quality control. Companies that have their products manufactured by a private label house and just market the products must use phrases such as “Manufactured for ________________,” “Distributed by _____________,” or any other wording that expresses these facts.
ARE YOU GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH?
Several years ago, a visiting scholar at Rockefeller university in New York City and a noted author of many books on nutrition, Dr. Michael Colgan, had researched the effects of vitamins. The following is an excerpt from his findings as published in an Omni magazine article.
“…And the food-processing industry? Oh, they’re interested in my work,” Colgan smiles. “They offer me weekends, give me the stretch-limousine treatment. Actually, though, I’m more disillusioned by drug companies that make vitamins. Many are run by people who know nothing about nutrition, have not one qualified person on the executive staff. Or, if they have, these people spend all their time in other research and never come in contact with the vitamins that are being produced by the firm. There is so much rubbish on the market,” he adds abruptly. “The majority of vitamins in health-food stores are rubbish!”
WHAT IS A REPLICA?
A replica is a poor copy of an original, always reproduced by those who lack the creativity of the originator. unfortunately, since it is not their creation, they also lack the pride and know-how that go hand in hand with original creativity.
Since the very purpose of a replica is to mimic the outward appearance of the real thing and to make money by passing off a poor copy, corners are always cut to make a greater profit at the expense of quality. A replica is a sham, which attempts to make up in appearance what it lacks in substance.
Honest Representations
As long as the product you’ve purchased has been honestly represented as an imitation and you’ve paid a fraction of the cost of the original, you have not been taken advantage of. You have knowingly sacrificed quality for price by your own choice.
When A Replica Is Sold As The Real Thing…Look Out!
Whenever someone is passing off a replica as an original or attempting to say that the replica is equal in quality to the original, LOOK OuT, because a fraud is being committed at your expense. If the price you pay for a replica is half the price of the real thing but the quality is only 5% of the real thing, you have still paid 10 times too much. Since you’ve been promised quality and you did not get what you expected, you have been deceived and cheated. We’ve all had the experience of buying a copy of a product for less money and coming home to find that this replica lacked substance, lacked quality, and most importantly did not produce the results expected from the original, and we had in fact been taken advantage of.
Why Do companies Make Replicas?
Companies make replicas primarily for one reason…to make money. These companies have no investment and therefore take no pride in the product they sell, sacrificing quality for the greatest profit.
These dollar-oriented operators have no understanding of the health food industry, have no investment in the industry, and therefore have nothing to lose. They have no interest in you the consumer, but they do have a clear interest in making money at your expense.
When You Buy A Vitamin Replica, You Are Losing A Great Deal More Than Just Your Money
Those of us who are concerned enough about our families to pay the extra money for the added benefits of natural vitamins go into a health food store not just to purchase vitamins but also to seek the specific health benefits that those vitamins will produce for ourselves and our families. Some call this the “Feeling of Nutritional Well Being”.
“The Feeling of Nutritional Well Being” is the very quality of your life. It would be a tragedy to experiment with replicas at the expense of your most valuable treasures…the health and well-being of both you and your family.
Are Your Vitamins Releasing The Energy You Need?
Since most vitamins cannot be manufactured in the body, they must be supplied by our diet. Vitamins are essential to release energy in foods. But our food supply does not guarantee the potency of vitamins. Therefore, a guarantee of potency from the company that supplies your vitamins is essential. This guarantee of potency is vital for the increased energy and feeling of well-being you are seeking. “When a vitamin is in short supply, the lack of a functional coenzyme handicaps a reaction in the pathway. The overall effect of the deficiency is diminished energy production.”
The decrease in energy from the lack of proper nutrition sometimes surfaces in obvious forms such as scurvy or rickets. But often the symptoms of the lack of a vitamin are much more subtle. “Since nerve cells are particularly sensitive to a decreased energy supply, they reflect deficiencies rather rapidly. Irritability, lethargy, apathy, fatigue, and nervous disorders are typical B-vitamin deficiencies.”
Checkout my site Right Here Don’t Wait
The Biggest Loser
Can vitamin supplements degrade in the mail?
jp asked:
Sometimes I order vitamins, herbs and other supplements online that take more than a week to ship. I’ve heard reports that insulin can degrade in the mail, but I don’t know if the same thing could happen for vitamins. Would their potency diminish significantly if they’re sitting in hot trucks and warehouses for a week or more?
Lower High Cholesterol
Sometimes I order vitamins, herbs and other supplements online that take more than a week to ship. I’ve heard reports that insulin can degrade in the mail, but I don’t know if the same thing could happen for vitamins. Would their potency diminish significantly if they’re sitting in hot trucks and warehouses for a week or more?
Lower High Cholesterol
Do vitamin supplements help with hair growth? If so can someone recommend a good one?
Ariana S asked:
I have healthy hair but it tends to thin out when I try to wear it long, I heard there are special vitamin supplements that help with this.
South Beach Diet
I have healthy hair but it tends to thin out when I try to wear it long, I heard there are special vitamin supplements that help with this.
South Beach Diet
Vitamin B6 Sources, Benefits and Deficiencies
Dr John Anne asked:
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water soluble vitamin. This implies that it can not be stored within fat cells. In other words, most of the amounts of vitamin B6 simply leave our body during the urination process. This also implies that we need a constant supply of this vitamin in our regular diet.
The primary function of vitamin B6 is to help immune system for producing anti-bodies. Antibodies are protein elements essential for fighting against diseases. Vitamin B6 helps in keeping homeostatic balance in the normal nerve functioning. It also aids in the production of red blood cells. Our body depends on vitamin B6 to break down protein content. Our protein intake is directly proportional to vitamin B6 requirement. That means, the more we eat protein based foods, more vitamin B6 we require to break down those protein elements.
Vitamin B6 Sources
Nature offers an abundant supply of vitamin B6. It is found in both animals and vegetables. You can depend on green beans, avocado, wheat germ, sea vegetables, chicken, fish, field salad, and bananas to fulfill your demand for vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6 Benefits
Vitamin B6 benefits us by fighting against various health complications. Vitamin B6 supplements are found to be of use for the treatment of hereditary sideroblastic anemia. However, it is prescribed only under strict medical supervision. Vitamin B6 benefits are quite apparent for treating and preventing pyridoxine deficiency. It also aids in treating neuritis. It is generally occurred due to certain health disorders, drug induced deficiency, and inadequate dietary intake. Vitamin B6 benefits in treating pyridoxine dependent seizures in newborns. It typically results from genetic pyridoxine dependency or from the over-dose of pyridoxine during pregnancy. The result is the occurrence of refractive seizure among newborns that can be regulated by intravenous administration of vitamin B6 with the help of expert health practitioners.
Vitamin B6 offers a whole host of benefits which include healthy management of nervous system functions, red blood cells formation and proper functioning, niacin formation, healthy hormone functioning, and nucleic acid synthesis.
Vitamin B6 is an essential component for synthesizing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. However, few researchers argue about possible vitamin B6 benefits while investigating relationship between dopamine synthesis and involvement of vitamin B6. According to their report, there is no possible relationship between these two conditions. However, neuropathy can be treated with appropriate dietary supplements rich in vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6 is an effective supplement for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. However, excessive use of vitamin B6 for treating carpal tunnel syndrome may lead to neuropathy, as different scientific literatures claim.
Vitamin B6 benefits in treating premenstrual syndrome. However, there is no sufficient scientific data till date that supports this claim.
Vitamin B6 Deficiencies
Due to its abundance in nature, we could hardly avoid the potential vitamin B6 benefits. In USA , vitamin B6 deficiency is uncommon to see. In some rare cases, elderly American suffer from vitamin B6 deficiency that may generally occur as a result of poor diet with inadequate supply of nutritional contents. The typical symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency include seizure, irritation, depression, confusion and other neurological complications.
A deficiency in vitamin B6 in combination with folic acid and vitamin B12 may boost homocysteine level in the blood stream. This is an amino acid naturally found in our blood. An increase in homocysteine level may increase the possibility of cardiac problems and stroke. High levels of homocysteine may injure coronary arteries. However, more clinical trials are needed to ensure the potential role of vitamin C in boosting the level of homocysteine.
Potential Health Risk
The fact is that vitamin B6 is water soluble and is expelled from the body through urination, but the prolonged usage of this vitamin may result in tender neurological symptoms referred to as sensory neuropathy. The symptoms may include intense pain sensation with feeling of numbness, difficulty in walking, etc. Hence, it is always recommended that you should only follow the prescribed medicinal supplements as suggested by professional health practitioners or doctors.
Chemotherapy
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water soluble vitamin. This implies that it can not be stored within fat cells. In other words, most of the amounts of vitamin B6 simply leave our body during the urination process. This also implies that we need a constant supply of this vitamin in our regular diet.
The primary function of vitamin B6 is to help immune system for producing anti-bodies. Antibodies are protein elements essential for fighting against diseases. Vitamin B6 helps in keeping homeostatic balance in the normal nerve functioning. It also aids in the production of red blood cells. Our body depends on vitamin B6 to break down protein content. Our protein intake is directly proportional to vitamin B6 requirement. That means, the more we eat protein based foods, more vitamin B6 we require to break down those protein elements.
Vitamin B6 Sources
Nature offers an abundant supply of vitamin B6. It is found in both animals and vegetables. You can depend on green beans, avocado, wheat germ, sea vegetables, chicken, fish, field salad, and bananas to fulfill your demand for vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6 Benefits
Vitamin B6 benefits us by fighting against various health complications. Vitamin B6 supplements are found to be of use for the treatment of hereditary sideroblastic anemia. However, it is prescribed only under strict medical supervision. Vitamin B6 benefits are quite apparent for treating and preventing pyridoxine deficiency. It also aids in treating neuritis. It is generally occurred due to certain health disorders, drug induced deficiency, and inadequate dietary intake. Vitamin B6 benefits in treating pyridoxine dependent seizures in newborns. It typically results from genetic pyridoxine dependency or from the over-dose of pyridoxine during pregnancy. The result is the occurrence of refractive seizure among newborns that can be regulated by intravenous administration of vitamin B6 with the help of expert health practitioners.
Vitamin B6 offers a whole host of benefits which include healthy management of nervous system functions, red blood cells formation and proper functioning, niacin formation, healthy hormone functioning, and nucleic acid synthesis.
Vitamin B6 is an essential component for synthesizing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. However, few researchers argue about possible vitamin B6 benefits while investigating relationship between dopamine synthesis and involvement of vitamin B6. According to their report, there is no possible relationship between these two conditions. However, neuropathy can be treated with appropriate dietary supplements rich in vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6 is an effective supplement for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. However, excessive use of vitamin B6 for treating carpal tunnel syndrome may lead to neuropathy, as different scientific literatures claim.
Vitamin B6 benefits in treating premenstrual syndrome. However, there is no sufficient scientific data till date that supports this claim.
Vitamin B6 Deficiencies
Due to its abundance in nature, we could hardly avoid the potential vitamin B6 benefits. In USA , vitamin B6 deficiency is uncommon to see. In some rare cases, elderly American suffer from vitamin B6 deficiency that may generally occur as a result of poor diet with inadequate supply of nutritional contents. The typical symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency include seizure, irritation, depression, confusion and other neurological complications.
A deficiency in vitamin B6 in combination with folic acid and vitamin B12 may boost homocysteine level in the blood stream. This is an amino acid naturally found in our blood. An increase in homocysteine level may increase the possibility of cardiac problems and stroke. High levels of homocysteine may injure coronary arteries. However, more clinical trials are needed to ensure the potential role of vitamin C in boosting the level of homocysteine.
Potential Health Risk
The fact is that vitamin B6 is water soluble and is expelled from the body through urination, but the prolonged usage of this vitamin may result in tender neurological symptoms referred to as sensory neuropathy. The symptoms may include intense pain sensation with feeling of numbness, difficulty in walking, etc. Hence, it is always recommended that you should only follow the prescribed medicinal supplements as suggested by professional health practitioners or doctors.
Chemotherapy
what company can i go to if i want to sell natural vitamin supplements from my home?
lynsys2002 asked:
I am interested in finding a reputable company to work with. I want to sell all natural products out of my home for extra income as well as the health benefits…vitamin supplements as well as herbal.
The Biggest Loser
I am interested in finding a reputable company to work with. I want to sell all natural products out of my home for extra income as well as the health benefits…vitamin supplements as well as herbal.
The Biggest Loser
Will You Pick A Multi-Vitamin That Works?
Tom Nuckels asked:
The year was 2002 when the American Medical Association (AMA) reversed its stance regarding the use of vitamin supplements and advised every American to take at least one multi-vitamin a day! For the previous 20 years, the AMA had promoted an official anti-vitamin-supplement policy and offered their scorn to those who suggested that vitamin supplementation offered any health benefits.
Their 2002 announcement was vindication for the many health professionals who had advocated the use of vitamin supplements while for years enduring the criticism of the U.S. health establishment. Finally, the AMA was admitting that the American diet alone does not provide adequate nutrition for optimum health. However, their announcement stopped short of explaining what the true role of vitamin supplements should be.
Vitamin Amounts - How Much Is Enough?
Data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that a minimum of 40% of the American population consumes a diet that provides only 60% of the RDA of ten selected nutrients. This means that half (maybe more) of the U.S. population has a deficiency of at least one vitamin. Now, this by itself sounds startling, but consider this.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration established the RDAs to give guidance for the avoidance of the symptoms of deficiency diseases. For example, the RDA of 60 mg. for vitamin C is the daily amount needed to avoid the symptoms of diseases like beriberi or scurvy. The RDA of 60 mg. is not the amount of vitamin C needed for optimal bodily function. Health professionals routinely recommend a minimum daily intake of 1,000 mg. of vitamin C and 3,000 - 5,000 mg. daily is common.
The RDA for vitamin B-1 is 1.5 mg.; amounts of 50 - 100 mg. daily are recommended by health professionals. The RDA for vitamin B-6 is 2 mg.; amounts of 50 - 100 mg daily are recommended. The RDA for vitamin B-12 is 6 mcg.; amounts of 200 - 400 mcg. daily are recommended.
A similar finding is true for all the RDA amounts established for vitamins and mineral supplements. This means that an ordinary OTC “multi-vitamin” promoting the old RDAs will offer only minimal benefits. When you select a multiple-vitamins supplement, you will want to choose one that offers a high enough daily dosage to provide nutrient amounts that enable good health.
Before using any supplements, you should consult with your doctor or health care professional, but here is a partial list of nutrient amounts you can use as a guide: Vitamin A (5,000 to 10,000 I.U.), Vitamin B-1 (50 - 100 mg.), Vitamin B-2 (15 - 50 mg.), Vitamin B-3 (15 - 50 mg.), Vitamin B-5 (50 - 100 mg.), Vitamin B-6 (50 - 100 mg.), Vitamin B-12 (200 - 400 mcg.), Biotin (400 - 800 mcg.), Choline (50 - 200 mg.), Folic Acid (400 - 800 mcg.), Inositol (50 - 200 mg.), PABA (10 50 mg.), Vitamin C (1,000 - 3,000 mg.), Vitamin D-3 (400 I.U.), Vitamin E (200 - 400 I.U.), Vitamin K (100 - 500 mcg.).
Natural Vitamins or Synthetic?
You will find that vitamin supplements are divided into two groups: synthetic and natural. The synthetic vitamins are produced in laboratories from isolated chemicals and mirror their counterparts found in nature.
Natural vitamins are derived from food sources. Chemically, there may be no difference, but synthetic vitamins contain only the isolated vitamin while natural supplements may contain other synergistic nutrients not yet discovered.
Generally, it is believed that synthetic and natural vitamins perform the same, but two noted exceptions are vitamins D and E. The synthetic forms are different than their natural counterparts. Most health care professionals recommend only the natural forms of these two vitamins. Natural vitamin D is identified as Vitamin D-3 and Natural Vitamin E is identified as d-alpha (not dl-alpha) tocopherol.
Synthetic supplements may also contain coal tars, artificial coloring, preservatives, sugars, and starch and other harmful additives. You should also be aware that a supplement may be labeled “natural” and still have these harmful additives. Read labels carefully.
Vitamins found in nature do not exist in free form. They are protein-bonded. Nutritional studies have revealed that protein-bonded vitamins, such as found in whole food supplements, are best absorbed, utilized and retained in body tissues better than vitamins that are not protein-bonded. Vitamins and minerals found in food are bonded to proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and bioflavonoids. Chemically derived vitamins are not protein-bonded.
What About Minerals?
Excesses of isolated vitamins or minerals can cause the same symptoms as the deficiency of vitamins or minerals. Therefore, having the correct balance of vitamins and minerals is very important.
It is best to select a broad spectrum multi-vitamins / minerals supplement because there is a cooperative action between certain vitamins and minerals. For example, the following shows the relationship between a listed vitamin and the nutrient(s) required for assimilation: Vitamin A (plus choline, essential fatty acids, vitamin C, D and E), Vitamin B complex (plus calcium, vitamin C and E), Vitamin B6 (plus potassium, vitamin B complex, vitamin C).
Weight Loss Journal
The year was 2002 when the American Medical Association (AMA) reversed its stance regarding the use of vitamin supplements and advised every American to take at least one multi-vitamin a day! For the previous 20 years, the AMA had promoted an official anti-vitamin-supplement policy and offered their scorn to those who suggested that vitamin supplementation offered any health benefits.
Their 2002 announcement was vindication for the many health professionals who had advocated the use of vitamin supplements while for years enduring the criticism of the U.S. health establishment. Finally, the AMA was admitting that the American diet alone does not provide adequate nutrition for optimum health. However, their announcement stopped short of explaining what the true role of vitamin supplements should be.
Vitamin Amounts - How Much Is Enough?
Data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that a minimum of 40% of the American population consumes a diet that provides only 60% of the RDA of ten selected nutrients. This means that half (maybe more) of the U.S. population has a deficiency of at least one vitamin. Now, this by itself sounds startling, but consider this.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration established the RDAs to give guidance for the avoidance of the symptoms of deficiency diseases. For example, the RDA of 60 mg. for vitamin C is the daily amount needed to avoid the symptoms of diseases like beriberi or scurvy. The RDA of 60 mg. is not the amount of vitamin C needed for optimal bodily function. Health professionals routinely recommend a minimum daily intake of 1,000 mg. of vitamin C and 3,000 - 5,000 mg. daily is common.
The RDA for vitamin B-1 is 1.5 mg.; amounts of 50 - 100 mg. daily are recommended by health professionals. The RDA for vitamin B-6 is 2 mg.; amounts of 50 - 100 mg daily are recommended. The RDA for vitamin B-12 is 6 mcg.; amounts of 200 - 400 mcg. daily are recommended.
A similar finding is true for all the RDA amounts established for vitamins and mineral supplements. This means that an ordinary OTC “multi-vitamin” promoting the old RDAs will offer only minimal benefits. When you select a multiple-vitamins supplement, you will want to choose one that offers a high enough daily dosage to provide nutrient amounts that enable good health.
Before using any supplements, you should consult with your doctor or health care professional, but here is a partial list of nutrient amounts you can use as a guide: Vitamin A (5,000 to 10,000 I.U.), Vitamin B-1 (50 - 100 mg.), Vitamin B-2 (15 - 50 mg.), Vitamin B-3 (15 - 50 mg.), Vitamin B-5 (50 - 100 mg.), Vitamin B-6 (50 - 100 mg.), Vitamin B-12 (200 - 400 mcg.), Biotin (400 - 800 mcg.), Choline (50 - 200 mg.), Folic Acid (400 - 800 mcg.), Inositol (50 - 200 mg.), PABA (10 50 mg.), Vitamin C (1,000 - 3,000 mg.), Vitamin D-3 (400 I.U.), Vitamin E (200 - 400 I.U.), Vitamin K (100 - 500 mcg.).
Natural Vitamins or Synthetic?
You will find that vitamin supplements are divided into two groups: synthetic and natural. The synthetic vitamins are produced in laboratories from isolated chemicals and mirror their counterparts found in nature.
Natural vitamins are derived from food sources. Chemically, there may be no difference, but synthetic vitamins contain only the isolated vitamin while natural supplements may contain other synergistic nutrients not yet discovered.
Generally, it is believed that synthetic and natural vitamins perform the same, but two noted exceptions are vitamins D and E. The synthetic forms are different than their natural counterparts. Most health care professionals recommend only the natural forms of these two vitamins. Natural vitamin D is identified as Vitamin D-3 and Natural Vitamin E is identified as d-alpha (not dl-alpha) tocopherol.
Synthetic supplements may also contain coal tars, artificial coloring, preservatives, sugars, and starch and other harmful additives. You should also be aware that a supplement may be labeled “natural” and still have these harmful additives. Read labels carefully.
Vitamins found in nature do not exist in free form. They are protein-bonded. Nutritional studies have revealed that protein-bonded vitamins, such as found in whole food supplements, are best absorbed, utilized and retained in body tissues better than vitamins that are not protein-bonded. Vitamins and minerals found in food are bonded to proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and bioflavonoids. Chemically derived vitamins are not protein-bonded.
What About Minerals?
Excesses of isolated vitamins or minerals can cause the same symptoms as the deficiency of vitamins or minerals. Therefore, having the correct balance of vitamins and minerals is very important.
It is best to select a broad spectrum multi-vitamins / minerals supplement because there is a cooperative action between certain vitamins and minerals. For example, the following shows the relationship between a listed vitamin and the nutrient(s) required for assimilation: Vitamin A (plus choline, essential fatty acids, vitamin C, D and E), Vitamin B complex (plus calcium, vitamin C and E), Vitamin B6 (plus potassium, vitamin B complex, vitamin C).
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Should I be taking any vitamin supplements for myself while breastfeeding?
XED asked:
I was thinking about calcium and magnesium supplements in addition to my dha and prenatal vitamin. Is this dangerous for baby?
South Beach Diet
I was thinking about calcium and magnesium supplements in addition to my dha and prenatal vitamin. Is this dangerous for baby?
South Beach Diet
Vitamins for Skin Care - Vitamins Which Protect your Skin
Dr John Anne asked:
Vitamins affect all types of skin greatly. Inadequate supply of vitamin may actually make the skin dull and rough. Various studies have been conducted to ensure the benefits of vitamins for skin care. If you really care for a healthy skin, quite naturally you need to supply your system a variety of vitamins. Most importantly, researchers put their emphasis on vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin D - they suggest these are most effective vitamins for skin care.
Skin and Antioxidants
Free radicals are the precariously malformed variety of oxygen that may trigger various skin and health complications such as wrinkles, inflammation, visible lines and ageing in general. Antioxidants help protect skin damage from free radicals. Vitamin E and vitamin C consist of antioxidant properties, and these two useful nutrients are mostly found in citrus foods and vegetables.
Studies suggest that vitamin A protect the skin from sun damage. On the other hand, vitamin C helps in skin healing. Furthermore, it is also suggested that vitamin C can enter through skin layers and it helps in healing damaged tissues under the visible skin layer. Vitamin D can be absorbed by the outer layer of the skin and aid in healing of the skin especially when applied in combination with vitamin A.
So, we can easily understand effectiveness of vitamins for skin care. Now let us move in discussing the contribution of each of the vitamins in more details.
Vitamin A
This is one of the essential vitamins for skin care. It has a direct and profound influence over the skin. Both inadequate and excess supply may cause harmful effect over the skin. Synthetic vitamin A can be applied directly over the inflamed skin area caused by acne, spotted pigmentation or skin wrinkling. A systematic use of vitamin A may also help prevent certain type of skin cancers.
Vitamin B
Many studies argued that vitamin B -3 and vitamin B-5 help preserve moisture in. It is a known fact that a well-hydrated skin has the less probability to become aggravated. Vitamin B actually does this job nicely. Also it is found that vitamin B exfoliates dead cells from the skin area so that the skin looks livelier.
Vitamin C
It is commonly known as ascorbic acid. This is one of the important vitamins for skin care in terms of playing significant role in healing damaged skin. It is particularly beneficial in healing wounds in the skin area. Vitamin C supplements are used in preventing scurvy as well. Several studies suggest that systematic usage of vitamin C may actually help in nourishing and rejuvenating skin from inside and help it looking younger than usual. It functions by activating the oxidizing property of the skin on which it is actually focused.
Vitamin D
This vitamin is synthesized in our body cells itself in the presence of sun light. Vitamin D is known to play its role as an antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic substance. It affects skin pigmentation. It is absorbed by the skin, so external application of vitamin D affects skin health greatly. However, you should avoid taking vitamin D in large dosages because large dosage may result in toxicity. However, sunbathing doesn’t necessarily mean to mega dosages.
Vitamin E
One of the essential vitamins for skin care, vitamin E functions as an antioxidant. Likewise any antioxidants, it helps put off free radicals and hence provide a sheath against skin damage. Primarily the skin damages caused by sun burn can be alleviated naturally with the help of vitamin E. Current researchers are continuously putting their effort in investigating various other health benefits associated with vitamin E.
In recent years, vitamins have become the latest trend in the beauty markets. They are really popular and the market is continuously expanding. However, we should always remember that if we lack a healthy diet and regular exercise, there is no possibility that we will get a healthy body or a healthy skin.
Lower High Cholesterol
Vitamins affect all types of skin greatly. Inadequate supply of vitamin may actually make the skin dull and rough. Various studies have been conducted to ensure the benefits of vitamins for skin care. If you really care for a healthy skin, quite naturally you need to supply your system a variety of vitamins. Most importantly, researchers put their emphasis on vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin D - they suggest these are most effective vitamins for skin care.
Skin and Antioxidants
Free radicals are the precariously malformed variety of oxygen that may trigger various skin and health complications such as wrinkles, inflammation, visible lines and ageing in general. Antioxidants help protect skin damage from free radicals. Vitamin E and vitamin C consist of antioxidant properties, and these two useful nutrients are mostly found in citrus foods and vegetables.
Studies suggest that vitamin A protect the skin from sun damage. On the other hand, vitamin C helps in skin healing. Furthermore, it is also suggested that vitamin C can enter through skin layers and it helps in healing damaged tissues under the visible skin layer. Vitamin D can be absorbed by the outer layer of the skin and aid in healing of the skin especially when applied in combination with vitamin A.
So, we can easily understand effectiveness of vitamins for skin care. Now let us move in discussing the contribution of each of the vitamins in more details.
Vitamin A
This is one of the essential vitamins for skin care. It has a direct and profound influence over the skin. Both inadequate and excess supply may cause harmful effect over the skin. Synthetic vitamin A can be applied directly over the inflamed skin area caused by acne, spotted pigmentation or skin wrinkling. A systematic use of vitamin A may also help prevent certain type of skin cancers.
Vitamin B
Many studies argued that vitamin B -3 and vitamin B-5 help preserve moisture in. It is a known fact that a well-hydrated skin has the less probability to become aggravated. Vitamin B actually does this job nicely. Also it is found that vitamin B exfoliates dead cells from the skin area so that the skin looks livelier.
Vitamin C
It is commonly known as ascorbic acid. This is one of the important vitamins for skin care in terms of playing significant role in healing damaged skin. It is particularly beneficial in healing wounds in the skin area. Vitamin C supplements are used in preventing scurvy as well. Several studies suggest that systematic usage of vitamin C may actually help in nourishing and rejuvenating skin from inside and help it looking younger than usual. It functions by activating the oxidizing property of the skin on which it is actually focused.
Vitamin D
This vitamin is synthesized in our body cells itself in the presence of sun light. Vitamin D is known to play its role as an antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic substance. It affects skin pigmentation. It is absorbed by the skin, so external application of vitamin D affects skin health greatly. However, you should avoid taking vitamin D in large dosages because large dosage may result in toxicity. However, sunbathing doesn’t necessarily mean to mega dosages.
Vitamin E
One of the essential vitamins for skin care, vitamin E functions as an antioxidant. Likewise any antioxidants, it helps put off free radicals and hence provide a sheath against skin damage. Primarily the skin damages caused by sun burn can be alleviated naturally with the help of vitamin E. Current researchers are continuously putting their effort in investigating various other health benefits associated with vitamin E.
In recent years, vitamins have become the latest trend in the beauty markets. They are really popular and the market is continuously expanding. However, we should always remember that if we lack a healthy diet and regular exercise, there is no possibility that we will get a healthy body or a healthy skin.
Lower High Cholesterol
Would vitamin supplements help a starving person?
Marshie asked:
If someone is starving and they take vitamin supplements would that keep them healthy for a little while longer? Could they replace the vitamins we get from food?
Lower Cholesterol Level
If someone is starving and they take vitamin supplements would that keep them healthy for a little while longer? Could they replace the vitamins we get from food?
Lower Cholesterol Level
What are the 3 main vitamin supplements that both women and men, respectivally, should take daily?
