Are Nutritional Supplements Needed?

The Importance of Nutritional Supplements

multivitamins In the past the general opinion of the medical community has been that vitamins and nutritional supplements are not needed.

However, a 2002 article in a major medical journal stated that diet alone does not supply most people with the proper nutrients needed and so vitamin supplements should be taken.

This article supports the fact that the opinion of the medical community is changing to a new positive approach to taking vitamin and nutritional supplements.

The article stated:

"Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements."

"Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults: Scientific Review". Kathleen M. Fairfield and Robert H. Fletcher, Journal of the American Medical Association. June 19, 2002, Vol. 287 No. 23.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School recommend:

"everybody, regardless of age or health status, take a daily multivitamin."

"There is strong evidence that multivitamin and mineral dietary supplementation are perhaps the single most potent preventative health measure that offers the greatest return on investment."

"It's rare to find a health promoter that offers such a substantial benefit with a relatively low cost and low risk of problems. When you have such a thing, you ought to jump on it."

Vitamin Supplements Promote Wellness and Anti-Aging

A study done by Dr. Bruce Ames, at the University of California Berkeley showed that alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine given to old rats improved memory, increased energy, and increased cellular energy producing mechanisms. After the study Dr. Ames stated "with the two supplements together these old rats got up and did the Macarena. Everything we looked at looks more like a young animal." This study supports the importance of nutritional supplements in anti-aging.

U.S. researchers conducted a one year study comprised of 130 adults over the age of 45. In this double-blind placebo study some test subjects took the multivitamin and multimineral supplement and some took the placebo. The test subjects who took the multivitamin and multimineral supplement became ill from infection 43% less than the test subjects who took the placebo.

Diabetic subjects also participated in the study. Of the subjects who took the supplement only 17% reported an illness, whereas 93% of the subjects taking the placebo reported an illness.

ProBLEN Anti-Aging Programs

In anti-aging medicine nutritional supplements are very important. Our Anti-Aging Programs, called Male Combos and Female Combos, cover recommended areas of anti-aging.

Of course everyone should consult their private healthcare provider, who may recommend additional calcium, iron, and/or other ingredients, depending on the individual.

Lisa Wells, RN