CHAPTER 6
Vitamins

Vitamins

          Everyone accepts that vitamins are good. Some feel that if one vitamin is good, then two must be twice as good. You are also bombarded with information about vitamins every day or so from the media. As a result, many of you may be wondering whether there really is a difference between one vitamin and the next, or is it mostly salesmanship?
          Yes, vitamins are good. You have to have them in order for your body to work properly. The good thing is that you can get them from your diet. Most of us in the developed world can easily get what is needed in the foods we eat. If you are malnourished, or you are eating a diet that is deficient in some important nutrient, then you might not get everything that you need in your food. However, if you eat a well-rounded diet and a variety of foods, then you are probably consuming an adequate amount of vitamins to meet your needs.
          Your response is “Yes, but. . .” I know we have all been told that we should take a vitamin every day. That is reasonable advice, and I agree with it. I think that at times my diet may not be ideal, and it is reasonable to take a vitamin. The problem with vitamins and herbs is that there are not a lot of studies examining the effects of vitamins and herbs on the body. People tend to assume that all herbs are fine; after all, they come from plants, so how bad can they be for you? But we do not know that for certain. You have to remember that hemlock and certain mushrooms—which are poisonous—are plants. Herbs are the newest kid on the block and have the least evaluation, from a scientific point of view. Some herbs may be safe, while others may not be. If you accept the claims of the people selling them, then you should be taking every herb they make. You and I both know that we don’t need to take everything out there. Their marketers have a vested interest in selling you herbs, and therefore, they will give you the strongest possible pitch to entice you. There is no governmental agency that regulates them, so beware: you are on your own.
          The pendulum will swing and in a few years the craze will have passed. In a few years people will probably be avoiding herbs like the plague. So what do you do? If you are going to use them, realize that the information you will be getting is probably biased in order to sell you something. If you believe that they will help you and not hurt you, then take them; but if you are concerned about whether or not they are good for you, then avoid them. You have to make the final decision and you are responsible for it--not the person who sold them to you. You need to make the best decision you can with the information that you have.
          Vitamins carry their own risks, too; there has not been enough research to answer all the questions we have about them. Most people assume that they are safe—but the scientific data on this are mixed. For example, one study that looked at beta carotene which is an anti-oxidant as an agent to prevent lung cancer showed that beta carotene consumption actually increased the smoker’s risk for developing lung cancer. In that study, one group of people took a placebo while the other half of the group took beta carotene. It is only from evaluating the results of scientifically rigorous studies like this that we will be able to give you the truth about vitamins and herbs.
           Nonetheless, I think that a multivitamin is worthwhile. You will have to decide if you want a vitamin made from rose petals, or milk thistle or simply a vitamin from the pharmaceutical company of your choice. I have had a few patients who take $300 a month worth of vitamins. If you choose to do that, fine, but realize that you may be on the edge. You may be doing more harm then good. So read, learn, and try to make the best decision that you can. If you honestly believe that a specific vitamin is better than another, then fine--use it. If you don’t, then consider an inexpensive vitamin from your local grocery store or pharmacy. Remember if one is good, two may not be better. The dose may be one for a man and two for a horse.

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