don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

"I take a vitamin everyday. It's called a steak." 
~Buck Weston, "Kicking & Screaming," 2005

"A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time--pills or stairs."
~Joan Welsh

At least for reasonably intelligent people with the good fortune to enjoy peace and leisure to ponder such things, life presents many questions for which there are no certain answers. Examples include "What is our role in The Grand Scheme of things?" "Is there a Grand Scheme of things?" "If so, who created The Scheme and why?" "What evidence is there for such explanations?" "If there is no Grand Wazoo-like supernatural creator or no Grand Schemes or not even a mediocre scheme, then why are we here?" "What's it all about?"

Of course there are other persistent and perplexing questions, one of which surely has to be, "Is it wise to take vitamin supplements?" 

I have not bothered to perform my usual double-blind, crossover trials of a longitudinal, horizontal and dignified nature to answer this riddle. Such investigations are expensive, require years of effort and demand cooperation with large numbers of people. Why bother, when I have other, more enjoyable things to do, particularly in light of the fact my mind is made up about vitamin supplements?

That opinion, expressed since the mid-70's in books, newsletter essays and speeches, is that most people do NOT need to take vitamins, provided they live sensible (in other words, wellness-oriented) lifestyles. Given that this advice was only an opinion, one not founded on definitive scientific evidence, a Papal decree or revelation, not everyone agreed. In fact, the vitamin supplement industry grew into a seven billion dollar a year business despite my reservations about the merits of vitamin pills. (Seventy percent of American households buy vitamins.)

Well, what is sweeter than evidence from scientific studies supportive of one's biases? Lots of things, I suppose, but evidence for what Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert calls "truthiness" -- an assertion one wishes or believes to be true that is not supported by facts, is always welcome! The time has come to go beyond "truthiness." Let me tell you about the latest research on vitamins.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences, and a non-profit group called Medical Letter, recently challenged supplement industry claims for the benefits and even the safety of vitamin supplements. The work of these authoritative organizations, with no vested interest in promoting supplements, was widely reported, including a comprehensive account in the Wall Street Journal (Tara Parker-Pope, "The Case Against Vitamins," March 20, 2006; Page R1.)

A review of studies by these two investigative bodies suggests that, contrary to widespread belief (more "truthiness"), vitamin C does not boost the immune system, B vitamins don't protect hearts and vitamin E, beta carotene and other antioxidants don't really fight cancer.  The WSJ article reports "a troubling body of research is beginning to suggest that vitamin supplements may be doing more harm than good. Over the past several years, studies that were expected to prove dramatic benefits from vitamin use have instead shown the opposite." In summary:

• Beta carotene might promote lung cancer.
  
  
• Vitamin A can increase a woman's risk for hip fracture.
  
  
• Vitamin E might increase the risk congestive heart failure.
  
  
• Antioxidants may actually promote some cancer and interfere with treatments.

Of course, we all need vitamins, but all the vitamins we need are available from food sources. Many experts still favor vitamin B-12 supplements for the elderly and folic acid for women of child-bearing age. (The latter have dramatically reduced the incidence of neural-tube defects in babies.) Elderly people can develop an inability to absorb vitamin B-12 from food, so supplements may be wise as we age.

The major criticism of the studies casting an unfavorable light on supplements is that they were all done on unhealthy people suffering from varied diseases, primarily diabetes or heart disease. This is a significant variable; studies done on supplement takers who are healthy could yield different results. As is almost always the case, more research is needed. 

Meanwhile, be skeptical about touted benefit claims for vitamin supplements. Don't overdo it, don't substitute pills for a sound, varied diet and don't underestimate the need for daily exercise and other wellness initiatives. Enjoy yourself, be positive and always look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of nutrition. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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