The ills of too many pills

By BETTY SMITH
Press special writer

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS March 26, 2008 03:14 pm

— Many people develop the routine of taking a multivitamin or other food supplements in the morning, along with whatever prescription medicines their doctor gives them.
That can be a wise decision, but they also may face a danger in oversupplementing.
“A good, across-the-board supplement daily is good for people,” said Heather Winn, educator for the Cherokee County Oklahoma State University Extension Service. “But never take them in the place of eating right.”
The Food and Drug Administration regulates dietary supplements as well as drugs. Congress defined the term “dietary supplement” in 1994, according the FDA Web site.
Dietary supplements contain dietary ingredients intended to augment the diet. They may include vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanical products, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes and metabolites. They are placed in a special category under foods, not drugs. The FDA requires that such products be labeled dietary supplements.
While dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before marketing, as do drugs, the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring these products are safe, and that any claims made about them are based on adequate evidence and are not misleading.
Dietary supplements are everywhere – at the local pharmacy, grocery stores, health foods stores, discount stores, even products on convenience store counters promising more energy or other benefits.
Winn said it’s not a good idea to depend on supplements to provide vitamins or minerals if your diet is lacking in some areas.
“There are certain vitamins and minerals that need presence of other food to do what they are supposed to do,” she said.
Calcium is one supplement many people take, especially women who hope to prevent osteoporosis.
“Orange juice with fortified calcium is good, especially if they do not drink milk,” Winn said.
Fortified soy milk, green leafy vegetables, and fish with edible bones also provide a source of calcium. Winn noted that many people are lactose-intolerant and can’t use milk products, so they may turn to these for calcium.
She has information about what foods are high in different vitamins and minerals, and what amounts should be consumed by people in various stages of life. A pregnant woman needs different nutrition than one who is not of childbearing age or is not pregnant. Women of childbearing age also need folic acid.
Children and women generally need more calcium than men; however, it’s still important for the men in your life.
Winn said people over 50 generally need various forms of vitamin B12.
Generally, people with dark skins or those who do not spend much time outside may need vitamin D.
But there’s a problem with taking too many vitamins, as people sometimes do, hoping to gain an even better effect on their health.
“If you get too much it could have a reverse effect and not be healthy,” Winn said. “Just eating a balanced died is very important. If specific nutritional needs develop, your medical professional will help.”
Over the years, studies have associated the benefits of supplements to general health. This has resulted in the sales of vitamin and mineral supplements to an estimated $360 million pounds annually in the United Kingdom and more than $4 billion in the United States, according to an article by Alex McNally, a senior reporter with NutraIngredients.com.
McNally concluded that supplements are best used as a preventive measure, not a cure. He reported that sales of some supplements, such as vitamin E, fell after negative coverage about increased mortality for people with a very high vitamin E intake.
The New Scientist magazine also said the benefits of antioxidant supplements are a myth; however, a number of studies have associated increased consumption of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables to reducing the risks of a number of diseases, including cancer.
McNally reported while there have been many negative results, there also has been evidence that supplements can be beneficial. He concluded supplements should not be used as drugs, but as an addition to a balanced diet.
As every child who has ever watched cartoons knows, Popeye was virtually helpless to defend Olive Oyl (also the namesake of a nutritious food product) until the sailor man ingested copious cans of spinach. But children are equally likely to detest spinach in its canned form.
Fortunately, today fresh spinach, as well as the frozen variety, is available year-round in supermarkets.