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Food Supplements:
How Necessary Are They?
Whether or not to take vitamin, herbal and mineral supplements can
stir up more controversy than just about anything. Some people say, with
great conviction, that all they do is create expensive urine. Others say,
with equal belief, that their health and energy are totally dependent upon
the supplements they take. Statistics tell us that over half of Americans
use dietary supplements on a regular basis. We spend over $6 billion on
herbs, vitamins and minerals each year, and it is expected that this market
will double in the next few years, even though our population certainly
won't grow by that amount.
We can't possibly settle this dispute in this article, but we can
tell you that the evidence for their effectiveness is sketch--in most cases.
At the same time, if you feel you benefit from their intake, then by all
means continue as long as you aren't overdosing on them.
Here are a few points to consider:
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Almost all advertising about vitamins, herbs and supplements is probably
overstated. Research conducted on dietary supplements is not held to the
same standards that apply to other nonprescription drugs, such as aspirin
or laxatives. For quite a while beta carotene was marketed as an important
antioxidant protecting against coronary disease. Now studies show that
beta carotene does not prevent heart disease. In January, 1998, in fact,
the World Health Organization issued a warning against beta carotene supplements,
but they continue to be sold and ingested.
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Just because the product is sold doesn't mean that it is safe. The Food
and Drug Administration only steps in after reports of harm -- not before.
Cigarette smokers, for example, actually increase their risk of lung
cancer from taking beta carotene. We only know this after the product has
been consumed by millions of people.
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Natural doesn't mean safe. Some Chinese herbs are natural, such as ma
huang, an amphetamine-like stimulant. If you have ever taken something
with ma huang listed as an ingredient, you will know it shortly!
And this intense stimulation of the central nervous system has been known
to cause heart palpitations, stroke, and even psychosis in some people.
And it's all natural.
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Combinations of supplements with other medications can be deadly or
at least create other health problems. For example, combinations of garlic
with anticoagulants can cause internal bleeding. Check with your doctor
if you are taking a prescription drug and ask if there are any side effects
he or she knows about from combining your medication with food supplements.
Or get on the World Wide Web and see if anyone is reporting complications
from herbal and prescription medication combinations.
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Because of lax regulations regarding content of vitamins, supplements
and herbs, there is no guarantee that the product contains exactly what
is advertised. For example, The Lancet reported that some ginseng
supplements actually contained no active ingredients, even though all claimed
that they did.
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It's buyer beware. Notice how you feel after using whatever supplements
you are taking. Stop if you notice any adverse effects. Educate yourself
by checking with your doctor and reading everything you. Don't approach
this blindly, trusting everything you read!
Janelle M. Barlow, Ph.D.
Author of The Stress Manager
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