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
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  Inadequate folic acid status increases the risk of some cancers.
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  Vitamin E and lycopene appear to decrease the risk of prostrate cancer.
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  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.
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  Low levels of caratenoids appear to increase the risk of prostrate, breast, and lung cancer.
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  Inadequate vitamin C is associated with increased risk of cancer.
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  Low levels of vitamin A are associated with vision disorders and impaired immune function