multivitamins disappoint

Moonliner · 02-09-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

The largest study ever of multivitamin use in older women found the pills did nothing to prevent common cancers or heart disease. The eight-year study in 161,808 postmenopausal women echoes recent disappointing vitamin studies in men.

So it looks like eating healthy is still better than popping pills, sorry In-and-out you are still on my banned list.

I'm just waiting for someone to do a study on those hand sanitizer gels. I can't believe they are better for you than the germs they purport to kill.

Alex · 02-09-2009, 05:53 PM

The problem is calling them multivitamins. That sounds to real and therefore people might pay attention if proven useless.

Better to call them an ancient oriental secret cure then they would be rendered immune to analysis for actual efficacy and researchers could save their money.

innerSpaceman · 02-09-2009, 06:19 PM

I wasn't aware they were supposed to prevent cancer or heart-disease. They are nutritional supplements. From that description, I gather they are designed to make you marginally healthier if you do not get enough vitamins in your diet.

Curing cancer and heart disease is not "marginally" better. Furthermore, vitamins have nothing to do with preventing either cancer or heart disease. So WTF?

cirquelover · 02-09-2009, 06:31 PM

I've never liked taking pills so I don't bother with vitamins, either I get them in the food I eat or I don't get them.

As to hand sanitizer I almost never use it, unless I go to an amusement park. When you have a kid and their hands go everywhere and still in the mouth he either gets sanitized or wet wipes, his choice!

Kevy Baby · 02-09-2009, 06:36 PM

Susan has always taken vitamins religiously. A few months back, she had a vitamin test (I can't remember the exact name, but they checked to see her levels). Turns out she wasn't absorbing any of the vitamins. None. Zilch. Zip, Nada.

So they convinced her to switch to organic vitamins (she was strictly taking OTCs), which are supposed to better absorb into your system.

I will have to ask her if she took a follow-up vitamin test to see if they made a difference.

Alex · 02-09-2009, 07:08 PM

Who gave her the vitamin test? A doctor? I hope it wasn't one of those written surveys/questionnaires.

iSm, the labels on vitamins won't claim to cure cancer or anything but you get very far into woo altnerative medicine and there are a lot of claims there about such things. A lot of alternative medicines are simply claiming that some combination of supplements (whether in pills or more natural seeming plants) will take care of all that ails you? You've probably seen one of them selling his stuff on late night infomercials. Here's one, for example, telling you of a doctors 50% cancer cure rate using B12, cod liver oil, and iodine supplements. A couple years ago we discussed here a case of a teenager giving up cancer treatment for an alternative. The alternative was essentially a fancy masking of taking supplements.

But that is why the industry lobbied hard 15 years ago to ensure the exemption of dietary supplements from regulatory oversight. Make minimal official claims and let the nutjobs do it for you.

Kevy Baby · 02-09-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Who gave her the vitamin test? A doctor? I hope it wasn't one of those written surveys/questionnaires.

Doctor. It was a blood test. She passed: she has blood.

Or maybe it was a pee test - I don't know.

JWBear · 02-09-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Doctor. It was a blood test. She passed: she has blood.

Unlike you?

Gemini Cricket · 02-09-2009, 07:35 PM

"I'd marry you if it turned out you had no blood at all..."

Betty · 02-10-2009, 07:50 AM

I saw an ad for a "liquid" vitamin - you know - a capsule with liquid inside it. They claimed that you could absorb that more easily and that most vitamins pass through a person without even breaking down much.

I wonder if the liquid filled kind does any better or is just another baseless claim.

02-09-2009, 05:53 PM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	The problem is calling them multivitamins. That sounds to real and therefore people might pay attention if proven useless. Better to call them an ancient oriental secret cure then they would be rendered immune to analysis for actual efficacy and researchers could save their money.
	Submit to Quotes

02-09-2009, 06:19 PM	#3
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I wasn't aware they were supposed to prevent cancer or heart-disease. They are nutritional supplements. From that description, I gather they are designed to make you marginally healthier if you do not get enough vitamins in your diet. Curing cancer and heart disease is not "marginally" better. Furthermore, vitamins have nothing to do with preventing either cancer or heart disease. So WTF?
	Submit to Quotes

02-09-2009, 06:31 PM	#4
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	I've never liked taking pills so I don't bother with vitamins, either I get them in the food I eat or I don't get them. As to hand sanitizer I almost never use it, unless I go to an amusement park. When you have a kid and their hands go everywhere and still in the mouth he either gets sanitized or wet wipes, his choice!
	Submit to Quotes

02-09-2009, 06:36 PM	#5
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	Susan has always taken vitamins religiously. A few months back, she had a vitamin test (I can't remember the exact name, but they checked to see her levels). Turns out she wasn't absorbing any of the vitamins. None. Zilch. Zip, Nada. So they convinced her to switch to organic vitamins (she was strictly taking OTCs), which are supposed to better absorb into your system. I will have to ask her if she took a follow-up vitamin test to see if they made a difference. __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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02-09-2009, 07:08 PM	#6
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Who gave her the vitamin test? A doctor? I hope it wasn't one of those written surveys/questionnaires. iSm, the labels on vitamins won't claim to cure cancer or anything but you get very far into woo altnerative medicine and there are a lot of claims there about such things. A lot of alternative medicines are simply claiming that some combination of supplements (whether in pills or more natural seeming plants) will take care of all that ails you? You've probably seen one of them selling his stuff on late night infomercials. Here's one, for example, telling you of a doctors 50% cancer cure rate using B12, cod liver oil, and iodine supplements. A couple years ago we discussed here a case of a teenager giving up cancer treatment for an alternative. The alternative was essentially a fancy masking of taking supplements. But that is why the industry lobbied hard 15 years ago to ensure the exemption of dietary supplements from regulatory oversight. Make minimal official claims and let the nutjobs do it for you.
	Submit to Quotes

02-09-2009, 07:35 PM	#9
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	"I'd marry you if it turned out you had no blood at all..."
	Submit to Quotes

02-10-2009, 07:50 AM	#10
Betty Kicking up my heels! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Silver State Posts: 3,783	I saw an ad for a "liquid" vitamin - you know - a capsule with liquid inside it. They claimed that you could absorb that more easily and that most vitamins pass through a person without even breaking down much. I wonder if the liquid filled kind does any better or is just another baseless claim. __________________ Nee Stell Thue
	Submit to Quotes