Scientific Support Of Vitamin Benefits To Your Health

In the June 19, 2002 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) , two reports were published by Dr. Robert Fletcher and Dr. Kathleen Fairfield, a landmark review of 38 years of Harvard research. One of the conclusions was that the current North American diet is inadequate for optimal health. It is at best able to prevent vitamin deficiencies such as scurvy or pallegra, but not to live at our full potential health or peak performance.

The authors examined several nutrients in this study including Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, folic acid and several of the caratenoids (including alpha- and beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, lycopene and lutein). Notably some of there conclusions were:

• Low levels of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are associated with increased risk of heart disease
• 
  Inadequate folic acid status increases the risk of some cancers.
• 
  Vitamin E and lycopene appear to decrease the risk of prostrate cancer.
• 
  Vitamin D when combined with calcium is associated with a decreased risk of osteoporosis
• and fracture.
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  Inadequate vitamin B12 is associated with anaemia and neurological disorders.
• 
  Low levels of caratenoids appear to increase the risk of prostrate, breast, and lung cancer.
• 
  Inadequate vitamin C is associated with increased risk of cancer.
• 
  Low levels of vitamin A are associated with vision disorders and impaired immune function

Diet Supplement and Multi- Vitamin Rating Standards

In my quest for the dietary supplement to recommend to my clients, I came across a book by MacWillam, Lyle Dean, "Nutrisearch comparative guide to nutritional supplements : a compendium of products available in the United States and Canada "/ - 4th ed.

This book has become my definitive guide as I guide others to health and freedom.

This list of 18 points for rating is only a summery, and can be researched extensively at nutrisearch.com. But the importance of choosing the right vitamin, for a happy, long, life makes this an important overview.

1.Completeness- It takes about 42 vitamins, anti-oxidant, trace minerals, and essential fats to have proper cell function.

2.Potency - Emerging research has determined the need for dietary supplements. And has recognized that the DRI is set at levels that only keep you from not to getting a disease ie. Enough vitamin C not to get scurvy or vitamin D not to get rickets. But not what the body needs to be at its full health and vitality.

3.Mineral forms - The issue is bio-availability. The most resent studies indicate that mineral are at there optimum bio-availability as amino acid chelates or organic-acid complexes.

4.Bio-activity of Vitamin E - Scientific evidence is demonstrating that there is a greater bio-availability, absorption and assimilation of vitamin E in its d-alpha tocopheral form.

5.Gamma Tocopheral - Another form of vitamin E that when properly combined with the d-alpha tocopheral form gives the optimal benefit of the "nutritional thoroughbred" Vitamin E.

6.Anti-Oxidant Support - Anti-Oxidants do not work in isolation making it vital to use a wide spectrum including vitamin C, vitamin E ( alpha and gamma tocopherpol) vitamin A, beta-carotene, alpha-lipoic acid, lycopene, coenzyme Q10 and selenium.

7.Both Health - Does product contain vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin C,vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, boron, calcium, magnesium, silicon and zinc.

8.Heart health - Does the product contain vitamin E (alpha and gamma tocopheral), beta-carotene, coenzime Q10, calcium, magnesium, l-carnitine or acetyl-l-carnitine, procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs), phenolic compound and lycopene.

9.Liver Health (detoxification)- Does the product contain vitamin C, n-acatyl-cysteine (including cysteine), selenium, vitamins B2 and B3 (including niacin and niacinamide).

10.Metabolic Health - Diabetes, now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and Canada, is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Does the product contain vitamin B3 ( including niacin and niacinamide), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E (alpha and gamma tocopheral), biotin, coenzyme Q10, chromium, magnesium, manganese and zinc.

11.Ocular Health - Does the product contain the antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E (alpha and gamma tocopheral), vitamin A (including beta-carotene) and the carotenoids, lutien and zeaxanthin.

12.Methylation Support - A high level of homocysteine in the blood is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease and demands supplementation with B2, B6, B12 and folic acid.

13.Lipotropic Factors - Essential nutrients for lipid mobilization and detoxification in the liver are choline or lecithin and inositol.

14.Inflammation Control - Does the product contain eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, linolenic acid, gamma tocopheral, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C, flavenoids, procyanidolic oligomers, and the phenolic compounds from green tea, olive and turmeric extracts.

15.Glycation Control - Aging introduces chronic, cumulative chemical modification that attack the structure and cell function. Carnosine has been discovered to be the most promising broad-spectrum shield against the oxidative modification of proteins. Does the product contain i-carnosine, vitamin E (alpha and gamma tocopheral), vitamin C and alpha-lipoic acid.

16.Bioflavonoid Profile - Does the product contain a mixture of bioflavonoids (citrus flavonoids, soy isoflavones, quercetin, quercitrin, hesperidin, rutin, bilberry and assorted berry extracts) and PCOs (including resveratrol, grape seed, and pine bark extracts).

17.Phenolic Compounds Profile - The scientific evidence supporting dietary consumption of polyphenols is immense. The most famous phenolic compounds are: Tumuric , Olive extracts and green tea extracts.

18. Potential Toxicities - The majority of nutrients in supplements are safe, but caution in vitamin A and Iron levels are necessary