Today we are bombarded with ads for some kind of supplement making claims that their product will: make you feel better, look better, boost your immunity, increase energy, keep your brain sharp, improve your mood, make your sex life better, make you more attractive/desirable, and the promises go on.
This article is a FYI. It is not a condemnation of supplements, as there are medical nutritional deficiency diseases that require prescribing particular vitamin/mineral supplements.
Under DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act), the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) does NOT evaluate or authorize approval of dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed and put on the market for consumer consumption. In fact, in many cases, firms can lawfully introduce dietary supplements to the market without ever notifying the FDA and submit only limited data on the safety of their new supplement ingredients. Nor is notification needed for products containing a new ingredient. Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as food, not as drugs. However, many dietary supplements contain ingredients that have strong biological effects which may conflict with a medicine you are taking or a medical condition you may have. The public consumer must trust the for-profit company to tell the truth about their product’s safety, efficacy, and provide warnings about side effects, unlike a regulated medication. A further FYI: 80% of ingredients used in supplements and medications, and the product itself comes from China and India, with just a few other foreign countries. Although stated “made” in the USA, most of its ingredients come from elsewhere. The USA only produces 10% of ingredients used in supplements or medications.
As I mentioned, there ARE diseases/conditions caused by lack of a particular vitamin/ mineral. The lack of intake of that nutrient may be caused by a few things: dental issues, eating the “wrong” kinds of food that do not offer the proper nutrition to your body, following a certain diet that does restrict you from a certain group of foods, which could lead to deficiencies in both macro and micro-nutrients. Some people may not know the correct and specific nutrient content of food. Studies have shown that the major causes of nutritional deficiencies are insufficient intake of food, inability to absorb nutrients, and consumption of diets that lack some of the essential nutrients. As a result, the diet will not be as nutritious as it should be – missing many essential nutrients and vitamins.
If you question if you are deficient in a particular vitamin/mineral, talk to your doctor. There are tests that can be done to determine if an element is lacking. Laboratory tests are the most reliable method of determining whether a nutrient deficiency is present. It can be by finger-prick or a simple blood draw to collect blood, depending on what deficit is being sought. These tests are based on biochemical analyses that evaluate the absorption and processing of nutrients in the body.
A slight nutrient deficiency often only manifests itself through general symptoms such as a feeling of weakness or increased infection susceptibility, which are not always immediately associated with a nutrient deficiency. However, as soon as the nutrients become more off balance, the body sends out visible or tangible signals that need to be interpreted correctly. The symptoms vary depending on the missing nutrient. Just a few “common” conditions of deficiency in a particular element: (a) iron – paleness, tiredness, immune deficiency, anemia, shortness of breath, heart problems; (b) calcium and vitamin D increases risk of osteoporosis – bone fractures, possible mood swings, tiredness and frequent infections; (c) vitamin B12 deficiency – anemia, weakness, dizziness, neurological disorders. B12 malabsorption is common in people over age 50, those who have intestinal issues such as Crohn’s disease, colitis, celiac disease, or people who have had gastric bypass surgery; (d) older people, vegetarians, and people with gastrointestinal disorders are particularly at risk of some type of deficiency; (e) iodine – often leads to hypothyroidism, causing fatigue, tiredness and weight gain; (f) vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – cracked mouth corners, gum inflammation, in more serious cases vision problems and anemia; (g) zinc – skin changes, hair loss, poor wound healing; (h) selenium – nail changes, joint problems and diseases of the thyroid gland and heart muscle; (i) vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy skin, teeth, bones, and cell membranes, production of eye pigments necessary for vision; (j) magnesium – essential for bone and teeth structure. Severe lack of Mg. includes abnormal heart rhythm, muscle cramps, restless leg syndrome, fatigue, and migraines, and (k) zinc – skin lesions, increased susceptibility to infection, diarrhea, poor appetite, night blindness, and reduced taste and smell acuity.
If you suspect you are lacking a particular nutrient, see your doctor, get tested and based on the lab report, adjust your diet to increase the intake of the food rich in that element.
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