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Archive for the ‘Vitamins’ Category

Vitamin pills don’t prevent heart disease

November 15th, 2008

Von

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Vitamins C and E do nothing to prevent heart disease in men, one of the largest and longest studies of these supplements has found.

Vitamin E even appeared to raise the risk of bleeding strokes, a danger seen in at least one earlier study.

Besides questioning whether vitamins help, “we have to worry about potential harm,” said Barbara Howard, a nutrition scientist at MedStar Research Institute of Hyattsville, Maryland.

She has no role in the research but reviewed and discussed it at an American Heart Association conference. Results also were published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Male smokers taking vitamin E had a higher rate of bleeding strokes in a previous study, and several others found no benefit for heart health. (more…)

Posted in Health Tips, Heart Attack, Vitamins

Tags: American Heart Association, American Medical Association, Brigham And Women, E Vitamin, Health Study, Heart Attacks, Heart Health, Heart Problems, Hyattsville Maryland, Journal Of The American Medical Association, Male Doctors, Male Smokers, Medstar Research Institute, National Institutes Of Health, Nutrition Scientist, Physicians Health, S Hospital, Vitam, Vitamin Makers, Vitamin Pills

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Everything you’ve always wanted to know about vitamins but didn’t have the energy to ask

September 26th, 2008

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by Ching M. Alano

These days, people are popping vitamin/supplement pills as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. You’re probably taking one or two yourself. Veteran actor Eddie Garcia, hale and hearty at 80something, confesses to taking more than a dozen dietary supplements that cater to the different parts of his body. Yes, especially where they’re needed most.

The Journal of the American Medical Association, in its June 2002 issue, cites the vital role of vitamins in the prevention of chronic diseases in adults such as cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Like it or not, we all have a genetic predisposition to disease, but experts say we can rewrite the story of our lives by taking charge of our health — yes, by taking dietary supplements.

Health and beauty in a bottle of pills? Dreams are a dime a dozen. Some people take supplements to be taller, look younger, to have thicker hair, thinner waistline, better vision, better appetite, smoother skin, stronger nails. There’s a supplement for every human need. There’s even a supplement for the memory, but I just can’t remember the name. (more…)

Posted in Vitamins

Tags: American Medical Association, Ampalaya, Answ, Better Vision, Bottle Of Pills, Chronic Diseases, Dietary Supplements, Dime A Dozen, Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen, Genetic Predisposition, Journal Of The American Medical Association, Lower Cholesterol, Nutritional Supplement Store, Omega 3, Story Of Our Lives, Stronger Nails, Thicker Hair, Veteran Actor, Vitamin Pill, Vitamin Supplement

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Vitamin pills: Are they really necessary?

August 23rd, 2008

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by Tyrone M. Reyes, M.D.

For years, we have always been told that taking a vitamin pill is necessary for insurance — in case we are not able to keep up with a healthy diet. And sure enough, this has pushed up the sale of supplements worldwide — to a staggering $1.7 billion annually in the US alone. Yet, despite the continuous proliferation of vitamin pills, along with an almost motherly advice for us to take them just to be on the safe side, there is actually little science to support the need for a daily intake of vitamins.

In 2006, when a panel of experts formed by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) reviewed the studies done on multivitamins, they concluded that any evidence of their health benefit was thin, and that the clinical trials were too short to determine any long-term effects. “Essentially, if you don’t take multivitamins, there’s no reason to start,” says Dr. Michael McGinnis, senior scholar and chair of the NIH state-of-the-science panel on the role of multivitamins. “If you do, there’s no evidence to stop.” Adds Dr. Charles Halsted, editor of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “You’re deluding yourself if you think you’re preventing a heart attack or cancer with a multivitamin. It’s a waste of money if you’re perfectly healthy and have a proper diet.” (more…)

Posted in Food and Diet, Uncategorized, Vitamins

Tags: Alice Lichtenstein, American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, Beneficial Results, Cancer Prevention, Fruits And Vegetables, Health Benefit, Heart Benefits, Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, Little Science, Motherly Advice, National Institutes Of Health, National Institutes Of Health Nih, Nutrition Experts, Nutrition Science, Preventing A Heart Attack, Proper Diet, Science Panel, Tufts University, Vitamin Pill, Vitamin Pills

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Vitamin pills can increase rate of mortality

August 15th, 2008

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by AVRIL ORMSBY

LONDON — Vitamin supplements taken by millions of people in the hope of extending their lives may actually increase the risk of premature death in some cases, researchers said on Wednesday.

Scientists reviewed 67 studies on 230,000 people to see whether so-called antioxidant vitamins prolonged life expectancy.

They found that vitamin C, often taken in an attempt to ward off colds, seemed to have no positive or negative effects.

Vitamins A and E, traditionally used to help strengthen bones and improve circulation, showed if anything, increased rates of mortality, as did beta-carotenes, which are taken for healthy vision. (more…)

Posted in Food and Diet, Uncategorized, Vitamins