Vitamins are Necessary

The following is a summary of an article that was published in the October 2007 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition. This article points out the necessity of fortifying our bodies with vitamin and mineral supplements.

Although this article does not directly address the issue of some supplements not being adequate, other research and articles do. Comparison guides have been produced and research has been conducted by Pharmaceutical and forensic companies showing that not all supplements are created equal. The studies have shown that some brands of supplements do not have the ingredients stated on the container; some brands contain such a large quantity of waxes and bindings that the body cannot dissolve them and some brands use lower end raw materials. The studies have shown that few companies manufacture their own supplements. At times, some companies will contract out the production of their products to the lowest bidder.

This research reinforces two reports, published in the June 19, 2002 edition of JAMA in which the authors conclude that the current North American diet, while sufficient to prevent vitamin deficiency diseases (such as scurvy and pellagra), is inadequate to support the need for optimal health.

Insufficient vitamin intake is apparently a cause of chronic diseases. Recent evidence has shown that sub-optimal levels of vitamins (below standard), even well above those causing deficiency syndromes, are risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis. A large portion of the general population is apparently at increased risk for this reason.
Dr. Robert Fletcher and Dr. Kathleen Fairfield

The researchers base their guidance on the fact that more than 80 percent of the American population does not consume anywhere near the five-per-day servings of fruits and vegetables required for optimal health.

All of us grew up believing that if we ate a reasonable diet, that would take care of our vitamin needs. But, the new evidence, much of it in the last couple of years, is that vitamins also prevent the usual diseases we deal with everyday - heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and birth defects.
Dr. Robert Fletcher

Following is the summary of the current article.

In order for the immune system to function properly and efficiently, your body requires adequate amounts of micronutrients. This can be provided to your body by taking a good multivitamin/mineral. This will enhance the immune system by supporting your body’s natural defenses on both the structural and cellular levels.

A recent article published in the British Journal of Nutrition summarizes the roles of selected vitamins and trace elements in immune function. The article points out that adequate intakes of micronutrients are required for the immune system to function efficiently.

Why is an adequate supply of such nutritional elements so important? A micronutrient deficiency suppresses your body’s immunity by affecting antibody responses. Thus results in an imbalance in the immune system. When this happens three is an increase in your body’s susceptibility to infections. This, in turn, increases disease and death risk.

In addition, infections aggravate micronutrient deficiencies by reducing nutrient intake, increasing losses, and interfering with utilization by altering metabolic pathways. Inadequate intakes of micronutrients are common in people with eating disorders, smokers (active and passive), individuals with chronic alcohol abuse, certain diseases, during pregnancy and lactation, and in the elderly.

Micronutrients contribute to the body's natural defenses on three levels: by supporting physical barriers (skin/mucosa), by promoting cellular immunity and increasing antibody production. Vitamins A, C, E and the mineral zinc assist in enhancing the skin barrier function. The vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic acid and the minerals iron, zinc, copper and selenium work in synergy to support the protective activities of the immune cells. Finally, all these micronutrients, with the exception of vitamin C and iron, are essential for the production of antibodies.

Overall, insufficient and inadequate intake of these vitamins and minerals may lead to a suppressed immune system. This will increase your body’s risk of infections and will further aggravate and increase malnutrition. Therefore, supplementation with a multivitamin/mineral that includes these micronutrients can support the body's natural defense system by enhancing all three levels of immunity. Br J Nutr. 2007 Oct;98 Suppl 1:S29-35