2008 Woodie Awards
Vitamins: beneficial or detrimental?
Brittany McLeod
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Perspectives
A new study suggests that taking antioxidants like vitamins A and E to prolong life may actually have the opposite effect, according to AOL news.
The Press Association reported that a review of 67 studies involving more than 230,000 people found "no convincing evidence" that the vitamins prolonged life.
According to researchers, beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E seem to increase mortality, but other health specialists claimed the research was "flawed" and advise the supplements are safe to take.
To me, it seems a little scary because I take four different supplements daily (Women's Multivitamin, Iron, Vitamin C, and Calcium) and I'm huge on antioxidants. I'm anemic, which means I have a low red blood cell count and I need iron supplements. To hear that supplements might cause more harm than help is somewhat disturbing.
I drink hoards of green tea and anything with the word antioxidant on it is a necessary item in my shopping cart. Still, other professionals claim the study is flawed and "stitched" so I'm not going to worry too much. It's incredibly important for me to continue taking my iron supplements or I become extremely fatigued and tired.
It seems like even when you're told something is good for you, it's bound to have a study that will find it's harmful. It's tough to decide what's right for your body when even medical professionals are questioning their facts.
The right thing to do is just to keep eating healthy and maintain a good diet. Exercise and not smoking are also great ways to stay healthy.
The Press Association reported that a review of 67 studies involving more than 230,000 people found "no convincing evidence" that the vitamins prolonged life.
According to researchers, beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E seem to increase mortality, but other health specialists claimed the research was "flawed" and advise the supplements are safe to take.
To me, it seems a little scary because I take four different supplements daily (Women's Multivitamin, Iron, Vitamin C, and Calcium) and I'm huge on antioxidants. I'm anemic, which means I have a low red blood cell count and I need iron supplements. To hear that supplements might cause more harm than help is somewhat disturbing.
I drink hoards of green tea and anything with the word antioxidant on it is a necessary item in my shopping cart. Still, other professionals claim the study is flawed and "stitched" so I'm not going to worry too much. It's incredibly important for me to continue taking my iron supplements or I become extremely fatigued and tired.
It seems like even when you're told something is good for you, it's bound to have a study that will find it's harmful. It's tough to decide what's right for your body when even medical professionals are questioning their facts.
The right thing to do is just to keep eating healthy and maintain a good diet. Exercise and not smoking are also great ways to stay healthy.
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Vitamins
posted 11/07/08 @ 12:58 PM EST
There are many contradictory information about vitamins and I have the feeling that it's all about economical moves, not about health concerns. I learned to only trust my doctor and I usually let him take the decision if a medicine is good or bad for me. (Continued…)
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