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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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 Posted: 11/11/04 - 12:32 Post subject: Vitamins...a caution
I saw this on the news this morning: A new study just came out showing that too much vitamin E in the form of a supplement is dangerous.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=243228
As an aside, I personally take a women's multi every day, but the more I learn in my nutrition class this semester, the more I think taking anything beyond that (and really, even that supplement) might be a waste of money at the least and could be harmful on the other extreme. Many supplements interfere with medications (iron, calcium, others) so if you take any supplements from a daily multi on up, PLEASE tell your doctor AND your pharmacist so they can determine if your drugs are effective. Also, check with your doctor on if you should take them at all. If you are iron or folate deficient anemic, you should probably check the source of your anemia. Long term iron supplements aren't a good thing for you necessarily. The water soluble vitamins (C and all the Bs) can't be stored in the body (they are flushed with urine) and have no proven 'cold prevention' benefits, so overdosing on those is really just a waste of money (expensive pee as Airehead said  )and the fat soluble vitamins have toxic levels when taken to excess. Further, there have been studies that vitamins as a supplement act differently in the body or don't absorb as well as vitamins in foods.
And of course, if something hasn't been proven by the FDA, avoid it like the plague, it could be as dangerous to you as the plague. Just because it says your hair will grow, memory will improve, etc etc, it may also cause heart, vision and any number of other problems and not even do what it claims. Avoid the miscellaneous supplements at all costs. The FDA is very slow at banning the dangerous ones out there.
So, the moral of the story is, to get all your vitamins and minerals, instead of putting a lot of money in elaborate supplements, a better deal financially and healthier plan for your body is to really try to eat a balanced diet with wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Just my 
(and yes I do happen to have an exam on vitamins and supplements coming up, how did you ever guess? )
Once again, a good resource on deciphering some of what you need and don't need
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MechEngDropout
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Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 10474
Location: Off the grid
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 12:41 Post subject: Re: Vitamins...a caution
| cherylpf wrote: |
And of course, if something hasn't been proven by the FDA, avoid it like the plague, it could be as dangerous to you as the plague. |
I didn't think the FDA monitored any supplements. (Which is why there are so many worthless and possibly dangerous products on the shelves.)
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 15:05 Post subject: Re: Vitamins...a caution
| MechEngDropout wrote: |
I didn't think the FDA monitored any supplements. (Which is why there are so many worthless and possibly dangerous products on the shelves.) |
Yes they do. They regulate all dietary supplements and anything that makes drug claims, over the counter or prescription or whatever. They set daily needs and they monitor safety. Ephedra is illegal now because of the FDA, just to name one.
Read more here http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/fdaoview.html
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 19:57 Post subject:
The FTC also monitors claims that are made by supplement manufacturers
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megawill
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Posted: 11/13/04 - 09:55 Post subject:
well, i think we are in the minority on this one cheryl but i couldn' agree with your analysis more...
i continually amazed at the number of well educated people will put things in their body in the name of 'improving their health' or performance without demanding that these vitamins and supplements be studied for safety and efficacy...The fda monitors claims and safety, but the safety 'analysis' is usually the done after the fact that someone has been injured. i'd like the government to step in and give the FDA a larger role in monitoring vitamins and supplements..and require double blind studies by manufacuters to prove efficacy and safety.
eat a healthy diet and exercise and you are way ahead of the game...add dietary supplements (beyond a little extra calcium for those that need it) and at best you've just increased the value of your urine; at worse you may have just caused yourself some unknown damage...
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