More Background Information on Good and Bad Ingredients Found in Vitamins and Supplements. Much of what we believe is shaped by what we see, read and hear. The media's mes- sage about supplements--those substances regularly ingested as pills, powders and liquids by over one-half of all Americans in their quest to feel better and live longer--is decidedly mixed. We often read or hear stories about the benefits of taking supplements like vitamin E, St. John's wort or coenzyme Q10. Often these stories refer to published scientific studies demonstrating usefulness. This is not an article about the media or politics, but a few words about what's behind the news and what the media calls "science" are in order.
Over thirty years ago, I read a little book called Vitamin E for Ailing and Healthy Hearts, by the Shute brothers. These are hard questions, and because the answers are different for each of us and depend on individual needs, they can't be fully answered here. What is the difference in quality between one company's version of a given supplement and another's? Minerals. Residue from dissolved vitamins harmful? Are Ascorbic Acid and Vitamin C Identical? Whole Food Vitamin C from the Pure Rainforests of Ecuador! 1-800-769-9960 Are Ascorbic Acid and Vitamin C Identical? Despite popular belief, they are not structurally identical. Ascorbic acid does not grow on trees or plants. It cannot be grown on a farm. It is produced in a laboratory and is an artificial reduced form of the natural Vitamin C. The Food & Drug Administration has permitted ascorbic acid to be identified as Vitamin C. How is ascorbic acid made? Well it starts with corn syrup (that clear syrup that is nothing but refined pure corn sugar).
Steps 1 thru 9 (Starch Hydrolysis): Corn starch is broken down into simple sugar (D-Glucose) by the action of heat and enzymes. Step 10 (Hydrogenation): D-Glucose is converted into D-Sorbitol. Step 11 (Fermentation): D-Sorbitol is converted into L-Sorbose. Step 12 (Acetonation): Yes that's right, they use acetone! Step 13 (Oxidation): The product is then oxidized with a catalyst, acidified, washed and dried forming L-Gluconic Acid. Dr. Best Multivitamins - Top 5 Multivitamin Reviews. A multivitamin may help provide missing nutrients Millions of Americans take a daily multivitamin.
Health experts agree that certain groups of people can clearly benefit from a multivitamin, especially women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Others may not need a multivitamin, recent studies show, because most Americans get plenty of nutrients from their daily diet; however, most experts say there is no harm in taking a daily multivitamin and it might help with nutrient balance if, for example, you can't stand eating your veggies, or eat a restricted diet for weight-loss purposes. There are hundreds of types of multivitamins and there is no standard formula for ingredients because multivitamins are generally targeted to specific nutritional needs, such as gender and age.
For most healthy adults, taking a daily vitamin will not cause any problems. A daily multivitamin is a must for some women Are multivitamins safe? Since 1994, the U.S. How to choose the best multivitamin. Multivitamins for Men - Top Picks & Reviews. Multivitamins for men don't usually contain iron, because men generally don't need more than 8 mg (milligrams) of iron a day, which is easy to get from diet alone. Premenopausal women need more iron because they lose it monthly during menstruation, so women should see our discussions on Multivitamins for Women or Prenatal Multivitamins elsewhere in this report.
Once men reach age 50, they may need more B vitamins, so if you're over age 50, see our discussion of Multivitamins for Adults over 50. The GNC Mega Men line of multivitamins are well-reviewed across the product line for accuracy in labeling and claimed ingredients, but GNC Mega Men Energy & Metabolism (Est. $30 for 180 caplets) multivitamin rises to the top on the strength of professional tests, expert recommendations and user reviews. It contains no iron, as men in this age group don't need to supplement for that mineral, experts say. GNC Mega Men Multivitamin One-A-Day Multivitamin, Men's Health Formula Elsewhere in this Report: Natural Whole Food Vitamins: Ascorbic Acid Is Not Vitamin C. This will be a short chapter, but after you’re finished with it, you will know more about vitamins than 95% of clinical nutritionists, doctors, supplement sales force, or bodybuilders.
If that sounds arrogant or overstated, it really isn’t my fault. I’m just a messenger; a purveyor of information. Either I’m right or the 95% are right; can’t be both. Without further ado, here’s the kernel: ascorbic acid is not vitamin C. Alpha tocopherol is not vitamin E. Vitamins are not individual molecular compounds. Vitamins cannot be isolated from their complexes and still perform their specific life functions within the cells. A vitamin is “a working process consisting of the nutrient, enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, and trace minerals activators.” – Royal Lee “What Is a Vitamin?” Dr. Hasn’t happened yet. Lee felt the full weight of organized drugs/medicine bearing down on him. . – The History of a Crime Against the Pure Food Law, 1912 – Elmer Nelson MD Washington Post 26 Oct 49 tyrosinase Dr. Vitamin A. Vitamin C. Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid, or simply ascorbate (the anion of ascorbic acid), is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species.
Vitamin C refers to a number of vitamers that have vitamin C activity in animals, including ascorbic acid and its salts, and some oxidized forms of the molecule like dehydroascorbic acid. Ascorbate and ascorbic acid are both naturally present in the body when either of these is introduced into cells, since the forms interconvert according to pH. Ascorbate (the anion of ascorbic acid) is required for a range of essential metabolic reactions in all animals and plants. It is made internally by almost all organisms; the main exceptions are most bats, all guinea pigs, capybaras, and the Anthropoidea (i.e., Haplorrhini, one of the two major primate suborders, consisting of tarsiers, monkeys, and humans and other apes). Ascorbate is also not synthesized by some species of birds and fish. Vitamers[edit] Biological significance[edit] Evolution[edit] Beware of Ascorbic Acid: Synthetic Vitamin C. Did you know that ascorbic acid is actually a synthetic form of vitamin C?
If you are learning this for the first time, it can be a rather shocking realization as almost all vitamin C supplements on the market use ascorbic acid. Even more disturbing – ascorbic acid is frequently marketed as natural vitamin C. Truly natural forms of vitamin C and synthetic ascorbic acid seem to be used interchangeably. How confusing for the consumer! Nearly all juices and fruit products are loaded up with ascorbic acid, even many organic, healthfood store versions. It seems that if a product is labeled “high in Vitamin C”, consumers buy more of it. A lot of folks are being fooled by these misleading semantics and there is a growing body of evidence that those consuming high doses of ascorbic acid should have reason to worry. Three Studies Suggest Caution with High Dose Ascorbic Acid The Winter 2009 edition of Wise Traditions cites 3 studies which give pause about large doses of vitamin C.
C-Salts (vitamin c (ascorbic acid)) Report for Patients Like You. Drugstore.com. Patient Money - When Buying Vitamins, Know What’s Worth Paying For. NSF International. NSF International. List of Rxs that deplete vitamins? Fortify Your Knowledge About Vitamins. Get Consumer Updates by E-mail Consumer Updates RSS Feed On this page: Vitamins are essential nutrients that contribute to a healthy life. Although most people get all the vitamins they need from the foods they eat, millions of people worldwide take supplemental vitamins as part of their health regimen. Why Buy Vitamins? There are many good reasons to consider taking vitamin supplements, such as over-the-counter multivitamins. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), a doctor may recommend that you take them: for certain health problemsif you eat a vegetarian or vegan dietif you are pregnant or breastfeeding back to top Vitamin Facts Your body uses vitamins for a variety of biological processes, including growth, digestion, and nerve function.
Water-soluble vitamins are easily absorbed by the body, which doesn't store large amounts. Develop a Vitamin Strategy It is important for consumers to have an overall strategy for how they will achieve adequate vitamin intakes.