{"id":19128,"date":"2025-09-16T13:33:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T17:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/?p=19128"},"modified":"2025-09-16T13:33:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T17:33:38","slug":"more-bashing-of-supplements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/16\/more-bashing-of-supplements\/","title":{"rendered":"More bashing of Supplements"},"content":{"rendered":"

by\u00a0Warren Matthews<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Xtend-Life<\/a><\/p>\n

The anti-supplement lobby is at it again by highlighting a study in which\u00a0vitamins<\/a>\u00a0and minerals given to babies with Down \u2019s syndrome did not provide any benefits. As a result of this study they are suggesting that\u00a0supplements<\/a>\u00a0don\u2019t work and indeed may be dangerous.<\/p>\n

Nothing new in these claims, but it does continue to amaze me why the media gives these negative reports so much credence and yet choose to ignore the very positive studies highlighting the benefits of many nutrient\u00a0supplements<\/a>. The positive studies far outweigh the negative ones and any thinking person can easily see the benefits.<\/p>\n

Anyone who is knowledgeable about the subject of\u00a0supplements<\/a>\u00a0know that the prime objective of these nutrients are to prevent degenerative disease and that they will not work miracles for those people who already have a chronic disease.<\/p>\n

They will certainly help in a recovery process but to rely on a few\u00a0vitamins<\/a>\u00a0and minerals to reverse a serious condition is being naive.<\/p>\n

Alex McNally has written a good short article on this subject which you can review below:<\/p>\n

Supplements<\/a>\u00a0– do we ask too much?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taking a range of supplements from\u00a0vitamin A<\/a>\u00a0to zinc is becoming part of everyday life. But as the latest study is published questioning their efficacy, people could be left wondering do they work?
\nScores of scientific studies have linked the benefits of supplementation to improved general health, which in turn has helped drive sales of vitamin and mineral supplements to an estimated \u20a4360m in the UK and more than $4bn in the US.<\/p>\n

But when it comes to clinical tests, negative news seems to get more press than good news. And one failed result gives the anti-supplements crowd the opportunity to dismiss supplements in general.<\/p>\n

We have seen it all before – one study which does not have the desired effect suddenly becomes the talking point of the town and everyone forgets the hundreds of positive results.<\/p>\n

Vitamin E has been one such causality, fuelled by over reaction in the wider consumer press. The nutrient was at the end of some rough treatment after a controversial meta-analysis reported an increased risk of all-cause mortality for people with high vitamin E intake.<\/p>\n

Sales of vitamin E supplements are thought to have fallen by half in the US following negative coverage.<\/p>\n

And again, last week a failed trial to see the effect of\u00a0vitamins<\/a>\u00a0and minerals on children with Down\u2019s syndrome led to the Down\u2019s Syndrome Association saying they hope parents \u201cwill think very carefully before giving these sometimes very dangerous \u2018therapies\u2019 to their [Down’s syndrome] children\u201d.<\/p>\n

This immediately raises the question – are we expecting too much from our humble\u00a0vitamins<\/a>\u00a0and minerals?<\/p>\n

Should their use be limited to general health or for pre-emptive purposes, and not taken for already well-established health problems, diseases and genetic disorders?<\/p>\n

What is clear is that the value of nutrients is in the prevention, not cure, of disease.<\/p>\n

Health conditions<\/p>\n

Indeed the value of such trials is questionable, as too often nutrients are pulled out of context, following the same methodology as used for the testing of drugs.<\/p>\n

The New Scientist magazine has also slammed the benefits of\u00a0antioxidant<\/a>\u00a0supplements as myth.<\/p>\n

A vast body of observational\/ epidemiological studies have associated an increased dietary intake of\u00a0antioxidants<\/a>\u00a0from fruits and vegetables to reduced risks of a range of disease, including cancer.<\/p>\n

Despite this, the article said that when such\u00a0antioxidants<\/a>\u00a0have been extracted and put into supplements, the results, according to randomised clinical trials, do not produce the same benefits and may even be harmful<\/p>\n

But is this really the answer or is it due to poor study design?<\/p>\n

The Down\u2019s syndrome trial – again a randomized trial – looked at over 150 babies with the genetic condition who were given daily supplements of selenium, zinc, vitamins A, C and E, and folic acid for 18 months, with no benefits observed, according to results published in the British Medical Journal.<\/p>\n

The results prompted lead author Jill Ellis from University College London\u2019s Institute of Child Health to say: \u201cParents who choose to give supplements to their children need to weigh their hope of unproved benefits against potential adverse effects from high dose, prolonged supplementation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other past studies linking vitamins and minerals to not having the desired effect include calcium supplements and bones, vitamin E and\u00a0asthma<\/a>, and taking B vitamins to slowing cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

However, for every null result there is also evidence of efficacy.<\/p>\n

The use of probiotics in a Dutch trial led to the death of 24 pancreatitis suffers – not because probiotics are dangerous – but because they were being applied as if they were a drug and to critically ill patients.<\/p>\n

But on other hand their potential use to boost human health and thus avoid conditions such as\u00a0colds<\/a>\u00a0and diarrhoea in the third world have been applauded.<\/p>\n

Perhaps here lies the lesson. Supplements are exactly that, to supplement a normal balanced diet. They are not drugs.<\/p>\n

Alex McNally is a senior reporter with NutraIngredients.com and has lived and worked in France, Brussels and the UK. If you would like to comment on the piece, send an email to: alex.mcnally@decisionnews.com<\/p>\n

Article provided by\u00a0Warren Matthews<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Xtend-Life<\/a><\/p>\n

Kalyx Natural Herbs & Oils<\/b><\/a>\u00a0is where we recommend you purchase all of your\u00a0organic, wild crafted bulk herbs<\/b>, spices, teas and\u00a0pure,organic essential oils<\/b>!<\/p>\n

Would you like to learn the healing art of\u00a0Aromatherapy, Color\/Crystal Therapy or Reflexology<\/b>? Become an Aromatherapy Practitioner, Color, Crystal Practitioner, or a practitioner of Reflexology through the\u00a0certification home study and distance-learning courses<\/b>\u00a0at\u00a0Alternative Healing Academy<\/b><\/a>!<\/b><\/p>\n

Learn more about\u00a0Xtend-Life – Micro-Nutriments<\/b><\/a>\u00a0– The elite of natural supplements. Love life, Live Longer!<\/p>\n

For Guaranteed, Effective, 100% Natural Herbal Remedies , please visit\u00a0Native Remedies<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Are you looking for quality vitamins, diet aids and health supplements? Visit the\u00a0Health Supplement Shop<\/b><\/a>\u00a0– highly recommended by NHH!<\/p>\n

\n

Related Articles<\/h4>\n