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THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS

WHAT'S THE BEST DIETARY SUPPLEMENT?

 

As you know, vitamins form a vital part of the human body's proper function and good health. With so many available vitamin sources available, diet, supplements, serums, tablets, and sunshine, to name a few, it can be a challenge to know which is the best source for optimal health and performance. Dietary supplements are the most controlled way to supplement micronutrient intake to reduce the risk of nutrient deficiencies. In a world flooded with dietary supplements, how do we identify the cream of the crop? Regulations regarding claims and product contents on dietary supplements are minimal, giving consumers and pharmacists a greater responsibility to do their own research on the products they purchase. 

NATURAL VS. SYNTHETIC VITAMINS

 

With an ever-changing market and consumers opting to make more informed purchasing decisions than ever before, it is important to know the source of your vitamin supplements. Vitamins from natural sources will most likely state it on the label. If the bottle does not list the source, it is likely to be synthetic. Other ways of identifying synthetic ingredients are ‘dl’ listed as part of the ingredient name, like ‘dl-tocopherol’ - the synthetic form of Vitamin E.  Ingredients ending with ‘ide’ or ‘ate,’ e.g., chloride or acetate, is salt form vitamins; a synthetic ingredient that increases nutrient stability. If nutrients are listed in the ingredient list by anything other than the natural name, e.g., Vitamin C, it’s likely from a synthetic source. 

 

 

 

 

DOES THE SOURCE OF VITAMINS AFFECT THE WAY YOUR BODY ABSORBS NUTRIENTS?

 

Many health gurus claim that supplements from synthetic sources provide us with no health benefits. In contrast, orthodox doctors claim that the molecular chemical structure of natural and synthetic vitamins is identical and equally effective. It’s sensible to expect natural and synthetic versions of the same vitamin to function similarly and for your body to absorb identical amounts. A natural vitamin can have different natural sources and function the same if no other substances are added. A natural source of Vitamin E, for example, is vegetable oil, known as the ‘d-form.’ The synthetic version contains ‘dl’ in the name like dl- tocopherols, which is a 1:1 mixture of ‘d-form’ and ‘I-form.’ Our bodies only utilize the ‘d-form.’ At the same time, the ‘I-form’ does not offer any known benefits and gets excreted from the body. This means, for every ‘dl-form’ Vitamin E tablet you consume, about half the reported Vitamin E dosage gets absorbed in the body. 

 

WHAT FILLERS ARE USED?

 

Apart from the nutrient source, it’s worth being aware of the fillers and additives added to supplements. Titanium Dioxide is a nanoparticle powder made of titanium bits and is often used in vitamin manufacturing. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety has listed Titanium Dioxide as a possible carcinogen. Still, to-date, no tests have been conducted on the long-term effects of Titanium Dioxide on humans. Magnesium Stearate is a flowing agent mainly used in capsule manufacturing, which prevents the individual ingredients from sticking to each other and manufacturing equipment. Overconsumption of the filler may have a laxative effect as it can irritate the mucosal lining of your bowel. 

WHICH VITAMINS AND MINERALS ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO SUPPLEMENT ON? 

 

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VITAMIN D

 

The biggest source of Vitamin D is the sun. We live on an island where summer is our only season, but ironically many people still have Vitamin D deficiencies due to working indoors and covering up outside. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of phosphate and calcium in the body and helps bones absorb calcium. Recent studies suggest that people who supplement with Vitamin D have an increased lifespan. 

 

ZINC

 

While technically a mineral, zinc is found in cells all over our bodies and plays an important role in our immune defense. Numerous studies show that zinc mitigates the length and severity of the common cold. Zinc plays a role in cell division, cell growth, and wound healing and interferes with the replication of rhinoviruses, reducing the symptoms experienced with a cold. Most multivitamins contain zinc sulfate, zinc gluconate, or zinc acetate. Studies are not clear on which one is the best one. Some OTC cold medicines, sprays, and lozenges may contain zinc.

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COD LIVER OIL

 

Cod Liver Oil is a fish oil supplement high in omega-3 fatty acids that prevents blood from clotting. Studies have shown that fatty acids in Cod Liver Oil have many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and reducing joint pain for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Cod liver oil is also used to treat patients with high cholesterol or high triglyceride levels. Supplements are available in capsule and liquid formula and both natural and synthetic sources. If the cod liver oil liquid's taste is distasteful, a flavored liquid such as Seven Seas Orange Cod Liver Oil is a great alternative. 

 

VITAMIN B12

 

Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin is an essential water-soluble vitamin needed for optimal nerve tissue function, optimal brain function, and red blood cells and DNA production. Vitamin B12 also assists in preventing megaloblastic anemia, which causes weakness and severe fatigue. It occurs naturally in red meats, poultry, and eggs and can only be produced synthetically through bacterial fermentation synthesis. Supplements can be administered orally, by nasal spray or injections. In cases where a deficiency is already present, oral supplements may not be sufficient, and Vitamin B12 may be injected.

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It’s hard to measure the quality of vitamins in supplements. The best comparison you can make is to read the ingredients and their quantities and base your decision on that. 

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