Scientific Status for Vitamins

Scientific Status of Vitamins

Scientific methodology dictates that when new study results challenge current existing theories, they must be diligently tested many times and either verified and accepted or disproved and discarded. But instead today, some of these new discoveries are the ones getting attacked without verification, such as the Nurses' Health Study results showing increased bone fracture risk over the long term from greater milk consumption. Have you heard this before?

SIDEBAR: One major goal of this website is to explain how controversial study results might occur, such as the finding that increased milk consumption increased bone fracture risk instead of reducing it as the Dairy Industry has promoted for so many years. 

Early vitamin research results were mostly favorable studying vitamin levels arriving just in food. The current study findings using the supplements of isolated vitamins or minerals, thought to be the active nutrient responsible for the food benefits, have not consistently shown these same positive results. Some are positive, many are neutral, and a few are reporting adverse findings. Here is where science is failing to connect the right dots.

This example illustrates the "logic" here. Vitamin E has been repeatedly tested for heart disease benefits. The anti-oxidant disease theory says increasing vitamin E levels, an anti-oxidant, should result in positive effects to protect the heart. And it often does, but the lack of consistent positive results should have either changed this theory, or added another factor, such as the major use of the synthetic form of vitamin E or using only one isolated natural vitamin E family member, d'alpha tocopherol, out of eight found in nature.

Finally, an observant Doctor decided to measure vitamin E blood levels as alpha tocopherol between heart patients and healthy people. To his amazement, the alpha tocopherol levels were nearly the same. It was another vitamin E family member, gamma tocopherol, that consistently measured lower in heart patients. Therefore, under what premise would a Scientist think that adding extra alpha tocopherol vitamin E form would be related to a heart condition? Wouldn't increasing gamma tocopherol with a balanced whole vitamin E family make more sense? article article article

FYI: Of course, the vitamin E form alpha tocopherol is still vital. Read on!

First, the anti-oxidant theory of vitamins is only half right. Anti-oxidants need to be balanced in the body with some pro-oxidation reactions. Plus, Scientists are ignoring some vitamin interactions and failing to recognize vitamin dosage characteristics between food and isolated vitamins. The exact vitamin form and dosage used in a study should be mentioned as part of the result, but are often left out. The SELECT study looking at vitamin E and selenium for prostate health failed to mention that a high dose of the synthetic form of vitamin E was used. There are major differences between synthetic vitamin E and natural E that research results with one form would not necessarily predict the results from the other form. A fact mainstream medicine still refuses to accept. This is explained here. Plus the dosage used would have also generated unbalanced conditions to jeopardize results, which they did. ref

SIDEBAR: The mentioning of these examples should not suggest that the use of synthetic vitamins is always at fault for negative study results. The misuse of isolated natural vitamins is also an issue generating some detrimental actions. Plus, related synergisms could also be in play.

90% or more of Multiple Vitamins Obsolete

For over 75 years now, vitamin Scientists have operated with vitamin theories developed with the limited knowledge at the time in the 1940's. These faulty theories that are still riddled with half truths have influenced vitamin knowledge for so long that the majority, over 90%, of multiple vitamin formulas based upon them are simply obsolete. While there are many areas of effectiveness, the few shortcomings discovered by current research are not gaining the respect they deserve. Only a few innovative companies have changed formulas to capitalize from this new research and stay within the safe nutrient windows of optimal dosages, forms, and synergisms. 

Have you heard a vitamin D expert talk about "vitamin D binding protein" and how it influences bio-availability of vitamin D? Or that the body uses certain free radicals for beneficial functions before antioxidants step in and neutralize them? This should have modified the antioxidant theory of disease long ago. Or that bones are storage sites for excess consumed calcium and chronic overworking of this storage process may be counterproductive and accelerate the aging of bone building cells? This would compromise future bone integrity. Yes, this needs more verification, but it explains the apparent contradictions observed between low calcium intake with strong bone populations versus high calcium intake but weak bones better than any other theory. It can easily be tested for validity, and in fact, already has... ref  ref  This last reference talks about telomere preservation that is associated with longer life for osteoblasts, the bone building cells.

This website will present a clear and science supported view of the necessary updates in vitamin theories to correct these past faults. Science by it's nature is very slow to change or admit mistakes. While there are still issues needing more research, the existing study results are sufficient to show a new direction for vitamin knowledge. You deserve to know now about these novel concepts so you can make informed vitamin supplement decisions. The cost of waiting for mainstream nutrition to catch up could jeopardize your health.  

Vitamin Mis-Steps

Following the 70 year evolution of the Multiple Vitamin reveals some of the major vitamin health issues facing consumers today. The first vitamins were mostly natural food concentrates. In 1941, Dudley La Blanc developed one of the first multiple vitamins, Hadacol, for Happy Day Company, containing a mixture of vitamins B1 and B2, iron, niacin, calcium, phosphorous, honey, and diluted hydrochloric acid in 12% alcohol. 

Here are the multiple vitamin changes in general terms since than that created issues.  

• Early Multiple Vitamins had lower vitamin dosages than today and the serving size was usually 6 tablets, 2 three times a day. 
• Six tablets was needed due to the large space needed for the appropriate amount of minerals.
• These formulas were nutritionally balanced to body functions and vitamin body usage. 
• The first changes to the multiple: Introduction of a ONE A DAY multiple. They often had greater amounts of vitamins since mineral amounts had to dramatically lower. This was obviously a convenience move to get more people to take vitamins.      
• Next, the nutritionally balanced B vitamin Complex changed from being balanced to body usage amounts to being balanced at all the same amounts. (i.e. Balanced B 50, a huge mistake)
• As the vitamin dosages grew larger, time-release mechanisms were introduced to attempt to increase vitamin absorption by slowing down the release into the digestive system. This has now proven to be unwise for two reasons. 1. Some tablets did not break down at all. 2. This delayed breakdown hindered nutrient processing for absorption channels.
• Next, the six a day was reduced to 2-4 per day, sometimes by larger tablets or capsules, or just by reducing amounts of some nutrients. 
• The trend was to reduce minerals since they took up so much space and to increase vitamins because they are so small. This was completely counter to what should have taken place. 
• Vitamins are only needed in small amounts due to how the body processes and uses them. As you increase dosage the body reduces absorption percentage. 
• Minerals actually become part of the structures of your body and should not have been reduced to the low amounts such as available in the one a day.
• Both vitamins and minerals form enzymes which are tireless workers and can perform thousands of actions in seconds. This is why vitamins are only needed in small amounts.
• One tablet ingredient change, taking out the starches, had unexpected consequences. The tablets exhibited a greater failure by not breaking apart and releasing the vitamins and minerals. The starches acted like a dry sponge that were becoming wet, swells up and was responsible for breaking apart the tablet.  Only take quick release tablets, usually mentioned on label.    
• The next change was the introduction of added greens and other food base items. Usually the amounts are so tiny it is like one half teaspoon of food that is overzealously given mountains of added value. It is better than chemical additives.
• The last change was the introduction of what is sometimes called foodform vitamins or whole food vitamins. Both of these names are quite a stretch for these terms. article 
• With food bases and the yeast from foodform vitamins comes an added elements to consider: CONTAMINATION WITH HEAVY METALS such as lead and ALLERGIES TO YEAST.
• There are only a few real whole food multiples that have vitamins made entirely by nature.
• Nutrient formats in multiples have occasionally experienced new concepts and forms, such as the chelation of minerals with amino acids. 
• Another changing item is the second most disappointing feature is that in all these years, the trend has moved from more natural vitamin sources, such as liver and yeast for B vitamins, fish for vitamin A, carrots and algae for beta carotene, to almost all synthetic. Even the foodform vitamins start out with many synthetics.  
• And now the last and largest disappointment originally generated by early science and sanctioned by Government health agencies; Vitamins C & E, plus beta carotene are incomplete and missing vital family members to perform all the necessary functions nature intended.  

There are a few multiples that include some family members, but far too few. THEY ALL SHOULD  and will in the future as the resource information presented on this website gains greater exposure.

Vitamin Research on Cancer

There are two goldstar studies on vitamins that reveal volumes, if you know how to read them.

• Nurses Health Study I and II

This study followed about 78,000 Nurses over 20* years and recorded many ongoing health, disease, and data points that were later used to evaluate numerous dietary and supplement health and disease associations. Nurses were studied since they would know how to accurately report and monitor symptoms. Many articles on this website use results from this study.

• Physicians Health Study I and II

Another similar study using 7,600 Doctors that upped the result values.

Follow the Research

Next is one study from the PHS II on 11,600 medical professionals that is useful to evaluate supplements on cancer.

Vitamins E and C in the Prevention of Prostate and Total Cancer in Men: The Physicians' Health Study II Randomized Controlled Trial | Cancer Screening, Prevention, Control | JAMA | JAMA Network

One arm of this study tested vitamin E, 400IU synthetic, Beta Carotene 50 mg, Vitamin C 500 mg, and a Centrum Silver multivitamin over 9 years to monitor cancer influences. The results showed these supplements had no impact on prostate or total cancer incidents. This website author fully agrees with this finding for the vitamin forms tested.

First, synthetic vitamin E is not recommended by the new vitamin criteria. It is incomplete and counter productive to the goal of impacting prostate cancer (See SELECT study). It does have very important anti-oxidant properties that could have value for some properties against certain cancer functions, but lacks vitamin E family members that show direct cancer participation. Vitamin C also has antioxidant properties for free radical control and at certain cancer processes might impact, but by itself, vitamin C is missing important values from vitamin C family members, rutin, hespiritin, and bioflavonoids. Centrum Silver multivitamin contains numerous errors in vitamin forms, lots of synthetics and unhealthy exicipents, plus lacks family members for beta carotene, vitamin C and E needed for complete functions, and has a few unwise and non-effective dosages.

CENTRUM SILVER 50+ Men label 

Supplement Facts

Serving Size: 1 Tablet

Servings per Container: 80

	Amount Per Serving	% Daily Value
Vitamin A (40% as Beta-Carotene)	750 mcg	83%
Vitamin C	60 mg	67%
Vitamin D3	25 mcg (1000 IU)	125%
Vitamin E	22.5 mg	150%
Vitamin K	30 mcg	25%
Thiamin	1.5 mg	125%
Riboflavin	1.7 mg	131%
Niacin	20 mg	125%
Vitamin B6	3 mg	176%
Folate (400 mcg Folic Acid)	667 mcg DFE	167%
Vitamin B12	25 mcg	1,042%
Biotin	30 mcg	100%
Pantothenic Acid	10 mg	200%
Calcium	220 mg	17%
Phosphorus	20 mg	2%
Iodine	150 mcg	100%
Magnesium	50 mg	12%
Zinc	11 mg	100%
Selenium	19 mcg	35%
Copper	0.5 mg	56%
Manganese	2.3 mg	100%
Chromium	50 mcg	143%
Molybdenum	45 mcg	100%
Chloride	72 mg	3%
Potassium	80 mg	2%
Lutein	250 mcg	*
Lycopene	300 mcg	*

*Daily value not established.

   

Calcium Carbonate,Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Oxide, Inferior quality minerals

Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), No family members for vitamin C

Microcrystalline Cellulose, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate,

DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Synthetic vitamin E, no family members

Modified Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Corn Starch, Crospovidone. <Processed foods and Chemical ingredients to help tab break apart

Contains <2% of: Beta-Carotene, BHT <chemical to Preserve Freshness,

Biotin, Blue 2 Lake, Calcium Pantothenate, Cholecalciferol (Vit. D3), Blue 2 lake artificial chemical color

Chromium Picolinate, Copper Sulfate, Cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12),

Folic Acid, Gelatin, Hypromellose <chemcial excipiant to help absorption of vitamins, Lutein, Lycopene (these dosages do not have researched benefits at such tiny amounts) Magnesium Stearate,

Manganese Sulfate, Medium-Chain Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Phytonadione (Vit. K1),

Polydextrose <synthetic glucose fiber, Potassium lodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vit. B6),

Red 40 Lake, Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Ascorbate (to Preserve Freshness),

Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenate <low quality mineral form, Talc, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vit. B1),

Titanium Dioxide <natural mineral coloring agent, Tocopherols (to Preserve Freshness), Vitamin A Acetate, Yellow 6 Lake, Zinc Oxide.

TRENDS IN CANCER Research

Since the current drugs for cancer are quite toxic to the health of the body, Scientists have been exploring the use of natural food elements that have anti-cancer effects, such as curcumin, green tea extract, and Chinese Skullcap. It is hoped that using these natural elements will boost the drugs impact and allow reduced levels of drug use to reduce side effects.

What If...

...some established health and nutritional facts you believe as truths were really not?

...you learned the germ theory is only half the story? The other half being immune conditions inside the body that either destroy the germs or allow them to multiply into large enough numbers to create disease.

...many degenerative diseases are related to chronic inflammation and reduced cellular energy production, areas of great influence by lifestyle and diet.

...the American dietary pattern and lifestyle fostered disease at rates greater than those in most other Countries? 

...the intelligent use of proper dietary supplements did have the ability to positively impact certain disease states?

...there was proof that multiple vitamin supplements increased longevity (telomeres)?

...you found out that Government health officials and scientists knew all these but remained silent?

What if... you learned these too late?

It is the conjecture of the Vitamin Workshop 101 website, supported by new science, that...

...vitamin supplements could had positive results in some cases, neutral in others, and a few negative results, all depending upon different circumstances at the time and the form and dosage of vitamins coupled with the presence or absence of necessary synergistic elements. 

Why Vitamin Workshop

There are two articles with same name. Go here Why Vitamin Workshop - Why Vitamin Workshop - Vitaminworkshop.com for the other original article.

GUIDE to Optimize Vitamin Choices for Maximum Health Benefits

There are many brands of multiple vitamins in the marketplace today. The majority of them offer basically the sane vitamin formulas just with different vitamin forms and dosages. These factors often make have a significant impact on health over timer.

Only a small handful of vitamin companies have ventured out of the traditional multiple vitamin box and worked to match human phisiology and vitamin science with realitites of health and disease conditions. Finding those vitamin brands is not the simple task it should be. Roadblocks abound from vitamin marketing stories, flaws in scientific theories and research, plus due to Government regulations that create greater confusion with label requirements and limiting facts about format differences. Unless one knows some new scientific vitamin facts that have challenged a few old faulty ones, there is less than a 5% chance of making healthy multiple vitamin choices.

        ...95% of Multiple Vitamins achieve Junk food Status... 

Plus, as internet vitamin offerings have expanded, picking safe and effective vitamins has become even more of a challenge. Also complicating this issue, vitamin companies have been racing to increase vitamin dosages to further confuse and bewilder customer choices. While many people believe more is better, seldom is this true for vitamins once adequate amounts are reached. Thus today, over 95% of available Multiple Vitamin products earn a rating just above "junk food" vitamin status. 

• There are studies that reveal properly used vitamin supplements exhibit profound health building attributes. VITAMINS WORK! But, another side of the coin is also a potential.
• 
  
• Supplements, simply due to their nature, may generate adverse effects if not consumed wisely and manufactured correctly. This is sometimes a direct result of how body processes work and also about how vitamins can be hijacked to help diseased cells grow faster.
• 
  
• Today over 95% of current multiple vitamin supplements exhibit one or more vitamin flaws in form or dosage, or from a lack of harmony with other nutrients, or under certain body conditions.
• 
  
• Sometimes these are just due to normal vitamin functions, such as how antioxidant vitamins might interfere with radicals generated by the immune system to destroy cold viruses. This allows colds to last longer. 
• 
  
• Or how vitamins that help cells divide and grow faster would be counterproductive for cancer control. SOME of THESE ISSUES HAVE NOW REACHED CRITICAL MASS. 

Check your awareness of new research findings with this fun and enlightening VITAMIN QUIZ

1ST MAJOR VITAMIN FLAW >go here and then here

EXAMPLES where supplemented VITAMINS and MINERALS have exhibited health influence. 

• Vitamins that protect cholesterol from oxidation (vitamins C&E, beta carotene, CoQ10) or lower cholesterol if it is high (tocotrienols, Omega 3 (plus lowers triglycerides)
• The vitamins that prevent and repair DNA damage (Vitamins B6, B12, Folate, C & E, SGS from broccoli, plus the minerals zinc & phosphorus)?
• Vitamins and phytonutrients that prime the immune system or neutralize toxic chemicals (NAC, vitamins A, D, B6, C, plus beta glucans and also the mineral zinc), 
• Vitamins that prevent and kill potential cancerous cells (IP6 and inositol), and zinc given out to children in clinics once a month in developing Countries to prevent bacterial infections and life threatening diarrhea, and zinc prevents some cancers
• The minerals that prime the alkaline system to safeguard pH control, preventing pathogenic bacterial growth and related numerous conditions? 

Concepts to help enhance meanings and recommendations on this website can be found in these articles: The Big Picture of health and Profound Health. This website operates on the Precautionary Principle if there is even a hint of potential adverse effects.

NOTICE: Some pages on this website go offline for periods of time to be re-worked. Return to check if back. Right now, the Vitamin Criteria section is (NOT) down. This one is the heart and soul of this website. Plus Brand Evaluations is on holiday too.

See Scientific Status of Vitamins to find out why over 90% of multiple vitamins are now obsolete, or should be. 

 CAUTION: Nutritional concepts and the use of vitamins remains to this day a somewhat controversial topic. This website attempts to use physiology, scientific vitamin research, and a touch of common sense to make some reasonable deductions. Do not assume what is presented here is an absolute truth, rather just stepping stones... 

A Look at some other topics covered on this Website:

Here is another concept for supplements that is often overlooked. Vitamin supplements should not disrupt normal body metabolism and nutrient pathways in any adverse way. Plus, they should not overtax body elimination channels, especially liver, kidneys, and bladder. This appears to defeat the benefits of the nutrients in the first place. ref  OK, yes there are a few benefits from certain antioxidant nutrients with excess dosages. While the body ramps up their elimination, they would provide protection for the cells of the elimination organs. But, this might be after they have disrupted digestion, absorption, and assimilation channels.

INSIGHT: Most vitamins and minerals exhibit an optimal range of amounts for benefits with both too low or too high presenting problems for maintaining body health.

Unfortunately, due to just how vitamins and minerals function and are processed by the body, the current usage forms and dosages of many vitamin supplements fail in one or more of these areas. The Public should know which vitamin and mineral forms and dosages potentially may have short-comings for certain subsets of the population plus which body parts and for what conditions. 

 ...96% of Multi-Vitamin Supplements contain errors...

As unbelievable as this sounds, this website will reveal why over 95% of Vitamin Supplements in the marketplace today contain nutrient forms and or dosages that new Scientific research has discovered should be changed. Only a few vitamin Companies are even aware of this new information and have changed nutrient forms and dosages. A few needed changes are actually not new and have existed in flawed forms for over 75 years. This website links to these study results so the vitamin consuming Public can learn how to optimize choices to maximize health benefits. 

 SUMMARY

• Most public information about vitamins and health comes from marketing spin designed to sell vitamins.
• This website begins a process to separate scientific vitamin facts and realities from advertisements that stretch vitamin truths and twist reality.
• Even Science needs to update concepts and theories since some were faulty due to limited technology available at the initial development time which newer research has discovered. article

• What makes this endeavor such a challenge is that since people exhibit many genetic differences, absolute vitamin facts are rare exceptions and numerous generalities mainly serve as guidelines. 
• Over 1000 linked Scientific Studies support the over 230 vitamin workshop website articles.
• Gathered over 40 years from 20,000 hours of Pubmed research. (Pubmed is where Science talks)
• Reporting on novel & unique vitamin truths that safeguard health.
• Some are so new that most people and far too many professionals have not yet learned about them.