Are The Daily Vitamins You Take Really Good For You, Or Just a Waste Of Money?

A recent news report stated that there were claims made by many doctors that daily vitamins supplements taken by people were completely worthless! What I found startling about this report was the blatant transparency of the poorly conducted studies supporting their conclusions. The doctor that was interviewed simply mentioned that the studies centered around people who took daily vitamins supplements and noticed no apparent difference in their overall health, when compared to people who did not take a daily vitamin. This is what formed the whole foundation of the conclusions of these studies. I wonder what they didn't measure?

There are hundreds of companies who manufacture vitamin supplements, some of them are either cutting costs, are lacking in ethics, or a combination of both. One way companies cut cost is by using an inferior type or source of the vitamin. For example, the label may claim to contain vitamin D, but which form is actually in the product? Vitamin D is naturally produced by the body when you are exposed to sunlight for a certain amount of time. Deficiencies in this vitamin are commonly reported by people who work night shifts and sleep during the day. What a lot of people don't realize is, if you have this condition, then you need to take Vitamin D3. Taking Vitamin D3 as a daily vitamin supplement, is the only form that will replace what you do not get from direct sunlight. How many average buyers know about this? They may just go for the cheapest brand, and if so, they are just wasting their money.

The particular studies didn't even differentiate between individuals who were taking multiple daily vitamins supplements and those who only took a single daily vitamin supplement. A person with night blindness can solve this condition with a daily vitamin A supplement. It works well, but these studies could just as well conclude that the overall general health of this individual was no better than someone who didn't take any vitamins.

It is common knowledge, that the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) listed on the ingredient label is just about always too conservative. Individuals who follow the 100% RDA dosage will probably not receive the expected improvements in their health because they will be receiving an ineffective dose for their particular health condition.

These studies also did not take into account the diets of those individuals who took vitamins versus the people who did not. Therefore, a junk food junky is already in a big health disadvantage and the vitamins supplements they receive may not help in offsetting their poor dietary choices.

Another factor that was not pointed out in these studies was the vitamin content of the foods being consumed. A person who primarily eats organic produce is going to receive a greater level of vitamins than an individual eating the same amounts of non-organic produce.

The relative ages of the individuals studied were not taken into account. As people grow older, their bodies become less able to assimilate certain kinds of vitamins. For example, elderly people are often deficient in vitamin B12, and some to the extent that they need injections in order to regain their strength and stamina.

What about the relative health conditions of the people studied. A 25 year old might have perfect blood pressure and cholesterol count, while an older individual with high blood pressure and high cholesterol readings may have been able to reduce these readings to an acceptable level with daily vitamins supplements, changes in their diet, and certain herbs. While the older individual may have higher levels than the younger person, the older individual still received the benefits from taking the vitamin supplements.

It's alarming how such a poorly constructed study can get national exposure. If you are still wondering whether you should begin or stop taking daily vitamin supplements, it's worth your time and effort to do a little research to find some reliable, scientifically based answers.