Is there a professional out there that can tell me if the taking of vitamin suppliments is really worthwhile?

Question

I am all for getting vitamins and minerals and the good stuff for my body, but I kind of doubt the efficacy of getting nutrients in the form of a vitamin tablet. I hear that the body only absorbs about 10 percent this way.

Answer 1

Hi,

I've been in the health and nutrition fields for over 20 years, I have a background in orthomolecular nutrition and biomolecular mechanics and I've been the head of product research and development for two national and multi-national nutrition companies. Here's the scoop on your question:

Depending on the type of tablet and the coating (or lack thereof) that comes on it the bioavailability (how much you body uses after you ingest it) will vary. (Ref: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Institute on Aging, and Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Absorbtion and Bioavailability, p. 233a, 1999)

Hard-pressed tablets don't often breakdown readily in your system (they'll pass through the digestive system and out with feces). If they do breakdown then some of the ingredients found in them can actually be 'burned out' because of the immense heat that's generated via the manufacturing process. (Ref: Journal of Nutrition. 129(5):1202-3, 1998 Sept.)

Soft-pressed tablets are usually a better buy since most of what they have will be absorbed by your body. (Ref: Journal of Biochemistry. 289(6):1002-5, 2006 Aug.)


However, some ingredients need to have an enteric coating (i.e., and amino acid or sugar coating) before they can be readily absorbed by your body.

So, here's the big and small of the issue: When you purchase supplements make certain you trust the person you're purchasing them from. If the person is knowledgeable then they'll have already found what works and what doesn't and you won't have to worry about it. Purchasing stuff from a retail store is a shot in the dark as it concerns quality.

The only way you can be certain if your body actually needs certain nutrients is to have a hair analysis. If you'd like more information on this you can visit my site (below) and read about it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to write and ask.

Lonnie Honeycutt, C.N.C.
http://www.betterlifetoday.com

Answer 2

According to an article in a leading medical journal, there is a link between vitamins and the reduced risk of chronic diseases. The article says that all adults should take a multi, daily. This is true even if you already eat a diet rich in fresh, whole, natural foods, because foods can't supply all the vitamins and minerals you need, at the recommended levels. If you're going to supplement, I recommend taking Double X, because it is the best and first multivitamin ever produced and sold in N. America. It delivers energy that you can feel all day, so you know that your body is absorbing it. Go to http://aforrey.qhealthzone.com/Products/Product.aspx?ItemNo=A4300 for info. If you try and dont like it, you can get your money back gauranteed.

Best wishes,
adamray

Answer 3

If you eat a balanced diet and eat meat you do not need vitamins. You are also correct that their is a loss in the process of digestion, though it is not anywhere near the 90% that you state. Having said that, most people do not eat a balanced diet. I know that I don't - so I take a generic multivitamin daily. If I was a female during childbearing years I would take a multivitamin with iron. Again I would take a generic. The brand names are overpriced and have the same ingredients.

Answer 4

I'm no doctor; I know this may be nasty; but try to chew the vitamin in your mouth, let it absorb, and chase it with water or soda. Make sure its a vitamin thats worth doing this. If you go to www.winltd.com there should be at least some information that can help you.

Answer 5

thats right the best way is just to eat healthy if u want another 10% then go ahead but it really doesn't do much *_*