Lead to Disease…Are My Multi-Vitamins Enough?
by Lisa Houk, F.N.P.,B.C. Nurse Practitioner
William Shive, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin, stated that “50% of those taking supplements will remain deficient.” Overwhelming scientific evidence confirms that vitamin deficiencies are affiliated with disease processes and the condition of a person’s health. Vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant deficiencies suppress immune function and contribute to chronic degenerative processes, such as arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart disease as affirmed by the Journal of American Medical Association, (June 19, 2002, Vol 287, No. 23). Are you getting enough out of your multi-vitamin?
Heart disease can be directly correlated to high levels of homocysteine. This is because of functional deficiencies of folic acid, Vitamin B6, and B12. Furthermore, a person greater than 85 years old has a 50% chance of developing Alzheimer’s. Clinical correlation has been made with Alzheimer’s and lack of antioxidants, particularly Vitamin B12, C, and E. The Framingham Health Study Cohort found that the elderly population is 30% deficient in folate, 20-25% deficient in B12, and 20% deficient in B6. Lastly, diabetes mellitus has been associated with a widespread of nutritional deficiencies. Magnesium, Chromium, Vitamin B1, B6, and E are commonly found to be low in diabetics. Magnesium and Chromium, particularly, can lead to insulin insensitivity and fluctuations in blood sugar. If you are at risk for heart disease, Alzheimer’s, or diabetes, pump up the volume on these nutrients to fight it off, beginning now!
Do some of the prescriptions you take deplete your nutrients? According to the Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook, 2nd Edition, they do. Antacids, such as Pepcid, Zantac, and Prevacid, deplete Vitamin B12, D Folic Acid, Iron, Zinc, and Calcium. Antibiotics, such as Tetracycycline and Penicillin, take away Vitamins B, K, B6, and intestinal friendly bacteria. Anti-diabetic drugs, such as Glucophage, take away Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid. Cholesterol lowering agents, such as Lipitor, Zocor, and Pravachol, lower Coenzyme Q10, Vitamins A, B12,D, E, K, Beta-Carotene, Folic Acid, and Iron. Oral Contraceptives and synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy deplete Vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12, C, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Selenium, and Zinc. If you are on these products, supplement the nutrients to minimize the deficit.
What do we have to worry about with regards to these vitamins? For example, low levels of Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) can lead to anemia, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet, depression, dementia, poor memory, and oral sores. It is found in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Another example, Vitamin E regulates oxidation reactions, immune function, and protects against cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and macular degeneration. If it is deficient, then problems will occur with skin, hair, anemia, bruising, PMS, hot flashes, eczema, psoriasis, muscle weakness, and sterility. Thirdly, Vitamin D, for example, is found in sunlight, milk, egg yolk, liver, and fish. If weak, then it can lead to Osteoporosis, poor calcium absorption, and thyroid problems.
I take a Multi-Vitamin. How do I know that it has everything I need and that I am absorbing it? Look on your bottle. Does it have a USP label for quality? Do not buy “cheap off brands.” You may be receiving less than 10% out of your product and wasting your money. Ask the pharmacist. Vitamins and nutrients are graded by Levels I-IV. They can direct you to the best quality. Lastly, look them up on-line. Go to consumerlabs.com for comparison of price, quality, quantity, and absorption rate.
So, how do I know if I am getting enough? Measuring levels of nutrients are done best through looking at the lymphocytes, the white blood cells. They are produced in bone marrow that regenerate new cells every four to six months. Lymphocytes measure minimal amount of each essential micronutrient that is needed to support lymphocyte growth or microgenic response. Plus, they reveal the total antioxidant function, which shows the ability of cells to resist damage. Spectracell Labs, based out of Austin, TX developed a process to look definitively at these nutrients in 1993. Consider a Total Nutrient Functional Intracellular Analysis (or go to spectracell.com for more information).
