Good Elements response to New York Times Article, Vitamin Pills: A False Hope? By TARA PARKER-POPE Published: February 16, 2009
We wanted to bring your attention to a thought provoking article that deserves comment….
Clinically, I have seen my patients improve greatly from taking high quality vitamins and mineral formulas. Of course, I rather they receive all of their nutrition from a healthy balanced diet but really how realistic is that and what exactly does a balanced diet mean. Our food sources are becoming more and more nutritionally deplete as we continue to contaminate the soil with pesticides and transport our foods for days and miles. Studies have shown a 3 fold increase in nutritional content of organic produce versus non-organic produce due to soil mineral content.
As a primary care physician trained extensively in nutrition, I believe if we hang our hats on the studies mentioned in this article and stop recommending vitamins then we will be doing a great disservice to our patients. Andrew Shao, the vice president for scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, said himself that there are inherent flaws in the way these vitamins are studied. With a more trained eye, as I examine these study designs there are many more factors that must be considered such as pre-existing conditions and nutritional status of many of the study participants at the onset of the study.
I agree that isolating out vitamin constituents ignores the healing quality that the whole plants have to offer. But we know that specific therapeutic dosing of nutrients are necessary for altering the course of several diseases. For example, based on an individual’s vitamin D status one might have to take over 2500 IU of Vitamin D to prevent contraction of the common cold or flu. In Good Elements, we have formulas which combine the vitamin isolates with whole foods like broccoli and pomegranate which is the best of both worlds. (see Good Element’s Renewal)
Continue to look at these studies critically and use your best judgment. For prevention of disease and to maintain optimal health status, vitamin and mineral supplements can be an enormous assistance
Yours in Health,
Dr. Britta Zimmer Naturopathic Physician and Founder of Goodelements.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/health/17well.html?em
Tags: diet healthy living, nutritional supplement
