What are Vitamin Design Flaws?

MultiVitamin and Mineral Supplements (MVMS) are available in a wide range of dosages and many of the nutrients come in different forms. Some forms are more effective than others and healthier for the body. US Health Agencies determined a necessary daily recommended amount for reach vitamin and mineral that appears to prevent obvious deficiencies for most of the population. But they only did lip service to how the different forms impact health. Remember, some of the research to suppport vitamin formulas are sponored by Vitamin Companies.

VITAMIN DESIGN FLAWS 

Vitamin Design flaws occur in multi-vitamin formulas: 

• When vitamin and mineral amounts fall outside of an effective dosage range (Selenium has a very narrow window of dosages between deficiency and toxic excess) ref 
• When dosages push ratios between related nutrients outside of acceptable levels (higher dosages of vitamin E hinder vitamin K absorption and functions) ref
• Exist in a less than favorable format which research and body conditions do not support (While both vitamin D2 and D3 work, D3 is favored with a longer body shelf life and greater effectiveness) ref
• Are missing synergistic nutrients necessary for optimal health benefits (Citrus Bioflavonoids increase Vitamin C actions plus have other numerous benefits) ref  

The US Health Agencies later added the higher safe amount for vitamins and minerals to go along with the necessary bottom RDI amounts. Thus, there is now a range of vitamins and minerals from low to high that appear healthy and are available in multi-vitamin formulas. These amounts have to be added to the amount of vitamins and minerals from food to make sure totals stay within acceptable ranges. NOTE: There are a few subsets of individuals that will respond adversely to amounts less than the upper so called safe amount. Nerve damage from vitamin B6 is one example where both a deficiency and an excess exhibit nerve damage. article Another example exists for immune compromises at amounts considered safe for synthetic folic acid. article The natural form of folate does not manifest this adverse impact at these levels.

Plus, if there are different vitamin forms available, the form used is not one research revealed has the most benefits with the least possible adverse effects. In addition, certain vitamins exhibit enhanced functions in the presence of synergistic nutrients, such as related vitamin E family members. Or, when one or more nutrients are supplied in usually large amounts, they may interfere with normal metabolism, often during digestion for absorption and assimilation. This can also influence the chemistry, or pH, acid/alkaline balance of body fluids, cells, tissues, and organs. One other influence is the impact of vitamin and mineral dosages and forms on the microbiota, or the mix of different intestinal bacteria. Proper balance enhances health while deviations of bacteria mix can lead to health disturbances.

Health and Vitamin connections are the product of numerous variables. This is one of the reasons nutritional science is part science and part art. No two people are exactly alike and respond the same way in research studies. Thus, attempts to average or harmonize results have to be looked at like grains of sand. They give possibilities and associations rather than absolutes and direct causes. Some studies are positive, some are nil, and others arrive at negative results for the apparently same vitamins and study conditions. Often there are subtle differences such as between natural and synthetic sources of vitamins that while appear similar, can be quite different with unique aspects to help clarify seemingly opposite results. The natural versus synthetic issue, while straight forward in science, becomes a tangled mess in nutritional and medical arenas. Very few Professionals know the truth. Research reveals numerous differences that impact vitamin health protocols.

EXAMPLE ONE

Synthetic vitamin E and natural vitamin E forms exhibit significantly unique functional levels. a lot of research does not specify which form was used in a study when giving results. This complicates study comparisons. Plus, in food, vitamin E is represented by 8 related forms, each with similar actions but uniquely complementary and synergistic functions. Example: Alpha tocopherol and gamma tocopherol both have antioxidant functions, but alpha works best against oxygen radicals while gamma works best against nitrogen readicals. To completely protect prostate tissue, both are needed. (SELECT STUDY)

PREMISE     

Vitamin Workshop provides a guide that coordinates many different complex vitamin health variables into a rather simple vitamin criteria for picking a healthier multi-vitamin formula. Factoring in the consideration of negating numerous vitamin design flaws, this criteria, while of course not 100% correct, may be the best vitamin science study referenced research resource available today. Modify with your medical team for your personal health conditions.

Why this criteria is unique?

This new vitamin criteria is for nutritional purposes only. In fact, one unique aspect of the vitamin design flaws exposed by Vitamin Workshop 101 is that these flaws are mainly about the nutritional functions of vitamins and minerals and how this relates to health and disease.

"over 95%* of current MULTIPLE VITAMIN products contain flaws in vitamin forms, dosages, and or missing synergistic combinations."

For example, cancer cells divide very rapidly and have to hijack normal body cell division nutrients, folates and vitamin B1, to continue this rapid growth. Another example, when illness causing viruses enter the body, immune system cells produce a free radical to attack and destroy these viruses before they get to reproduce and develop a viral cold. Taking too many antioxidants could neutraize these free radicals and prevent them from destroying the viruses. Research has verified this event.

Other Issues 

Most other websites that tackle multi-vitamin formula issues deal with quality of ingredients or faults in manufacturing. More appropriate ones also deal with forms, but very few handle the functional issues as presented by Vitamin Workshop 101, especially the new supportive scientific research.

In addition to these quality issues, there are also potential spoilage and rancidity issues as well as contamination issues from bacteria and heavy metals. While Vitamin Workshop 101 mainly focuses on nutritional applications, the other issues mentioned above are dealt with in product recommendations, even though not mentioned. This is why such a tiny percentage (far less than 5%) of currently available multi-vitamin formulas measure up to this new vitamin criteria guide. 

Update on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 8:58AM by Team RightWay

A most critical aspect of vitamin flaws regards how long it takes for any adverse effects to manifest. Fortunately, most are slow to develop and many require other conditions to also be present. It is the disruption of a cascade of processes that is often involved since vitamins and minerals are often part of enzymes. But, there are a few vitamin flaws that can quickly act to support disease instigators. 

First, a look at the processes involved.

• The Vitamin E flaw is the failure to include the other 7 family factors in MVMS formulas with alpha tocopherol.
• These nutrients participate in brain health, cancer control, cardiovascular cholesterol maintenance, and immunity actions.
• Alpha tocopherol, by itself, has limited actions in some of these processes.
• Alpha tocopherol supplements at higher amounts hinders the absorption of the other 7 vitamin E family members as well as vitamin K.  
• Yes, these conditions all appear to take time to develop. But, if conditions are already in progress, the other 7 vitamin family factors could slow down or even redirect a disease process. 

• The Absence of vitamin K2 in MVMS fails to support healthy bone structure, blood sugar control, certain cancers such as prostate, and protection against artery wall calcification leading to cardiovascular situations.
• Mineral ratios are downplayed by mainstream health professionals, but unbalanced ratios tax certain organs to regain balance points. This uses up energy, cellular functions, and mineral distribution channels that should be involved in health maintenance and other normal metabolic processes.
• An excess or deficiency of calcium intake hinders regular absorption of other needed minerals and could result in calcium disruption in cell functions, and calcium ending up in soft tissues or artery wall.
• Calcium and magnesium have a team impact on cellular and bone health which an unbalanced intake could disrupt. 
• Magnesium is often at a greater deficiency than calcium and this is counter to the movement of these minerals in calcium channels. Calcium channels move calcium in and magnesium out of cells. This action is vital for nerve flow, muscle contraction, and brain functions.
• Magnesium is involved in over 300 processes. Research reveals it is deficient in about 60% of the US population. 
• Iron should not be in MVMS since it reacts or oxidizes some vitamins.  
• Excess Iron and copper are often found in the brain associated with Alzheimer's.

These are just some of the conditions that vitamins and minerals in MVMS might influence with an unfavorable result. Guidance to prevent flaws for effective MVMS choices should be priority one.

Examples of Fast Design Flaw Actions

VITAMIN B6

1. One of the functions of vitamin B6 is to control water balance. Since pregnancy often involves water retention, Women started taking vitamin B6, some unfortunately at higher than recommended amounts. The few infants born in a dehydrated state quickly stopped this behavior.
2. People started showing up in emergency rooms with tingling in the arms and feet that would not go away. It was found they were taking vitamin B6 at higher amounts and told to stop. The tingling stopped. Both a deficiency and an excess of vitamin B6 can lead to nerve damage. A few people react at just 50 mg of vitamin B6, but usually it takes many 100s for nerve damage.

FOLIC ACID

1. Immediately after folic acid was fortified in certain grain foods, there was an uptick in colon cancers. Before this time, 1998, the colon cancer rate was steadily declining. The same thing happened a year later in Canada. And then 10 years later in Chile from folic acid fortification. While the cancer rates in the US and Canada immediately after returned to a slow decline in cases, Chile did not.
2. There is a class of cancer drugs called antifolates. It appears cancers hijack folates so tumors can grow faster. Folates, and thus folic acids, function to increase healthy cell division.  
3. Folic acid used in food fortification is the synthetic form of folate. The liver has to process the synthetic form into the natural folate form to make it active.
4. Folic acid above 200 mcg at one meal or over 600 mcg in a day, spills into the blood stream in an unmetabolized form. This leads to a reduction of the natural killer cell activity for the immune system. Long term effects are not yet known. 
5. Most MVMS have 400, some 800, mcg of folic acid and with the addition of folic acid from food fortification program, levels can reach over 1000 mcg daily.  

These are just some of the possibilities. There are others. Individuality factors into nutrient levels for ractions. Since there are simple ways to mitigate or eliminate many of these vitamin flaws, doesn't it make sense to adopt them just in case you are one of the more sensitive individuals? For your great health!