Vitamins & Supplements Archive

Some vitamins and minerals — including vitamins C and E and the minerals copper, zinc, and selenium — serve as antioxidants, in addition to other vital roles. 

"Antioxidant" is a general term for any compound that can counteract unstable molecules called free radicals that damage DNA, cell membranes, and other parts of cells. Because free radicals lack a full complement of electrons, they steal electrons from other molecules and damage those molecules in the process. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. In making this sacrifice, they act as a natural "off" switch for the free radicals. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect other molecules in the cell and other cells in the body. But it is important to recognize that the term "antioxidant" reflects a chemical property rather than a specific nutritional property. 

Despite widespread assertions in the popular and scientific press that many Americans have a vitamin D deficiency, the term "deficiency" isn't strictly accurate. The official definition of a vitamin deficiency means that specific health problems stem solely from the lack of (or inability to use) a specific nutrient. An actual vitamin D deficiency results in bone disease, such as rickets, which is rare in the United States. 

On the other hand, lower-than-optimal levels of specific vitamins, including vitamin D, may increase your risk of numerous health problems, even though they are not solely responsible for these problems. "Insufficiency" may be a better term for these lower levels than "vitamin D deficiency". 

News briefs

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Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may help ease anxiety symptoms in people diagnosed with a range of physical and mental health problems, according to a review published in the Sept. 14, 2018, JAMA Network Open. The report pooled findings from 19 different studies and included 1,200 people. Most of the studies compared omega-3 supplements to a placebo. Taken together, the studies included people with a range of health problems, including heart attacks, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, depression, and Parkinson's disease, as well as some groups without any specific clinical diagnosis. Researchers found that people who took high doses of omega-3s (up to 2,000 mg a day) seemed to have the most reduction in anxiety symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are usually derived from fish oil, have a number of biological effects in the body. Brain membranes contain a high proportion of these fats, and human studies suggest that a lack of omega-3s in the brain may induce various behavioral and psychiatric disorders. For now, it's too soon to recommend high-dose omega-3 supplements for treating anxiety. Larger trials testing the supplements (both alone and combined with standard treatments) are needed, the study authors say.

Research we're watching

Do you know someone who is using a supplement for weight loss, muscle building, or sexual enhancement? You might want to recommend a dose of caution. An analysis published on October 12 by JAMA Network Open found that many of these supplements contain unapproved and potentially dangerous pharmaceutical ingredients. From 2007 to 2016, FDA reviewers detected contaminants in 776 dietary supplements, produced by 146 different companies. Contaminants included sildenafil, which is the generic form of the drug Viagra; sibutramine (Meridia), a weight-loss drug taken off the market in the United States in 2010; and anabolic steroids or steroid-like substances. And 20% of products contained more than one unapproved ingredient.

These supplements could prove harmful for those who take them because their ingredients may interact with other medications or cause problems for people with underlying health conditions.

Most lack evidence of any health benefit — and some contain stimulants that could affect your heart.

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Of the nearly $37 billion Americans spend on dietary supplements each year, about two-thirds are for vitamins and minerals. The rest are pills, powders, and tinctures that contain various substances isolated from an array of sources — mainly plants but also animals and microorganisms.

Why are these products so popular? Some people believe that our food supply has been stripped of important nutrients, so they take supplements to replace what's "missing" (although many foods are already fortified to replace vitamins that are destroyed during processing). Others feel that Western medicine relies too heavily on pharmaceuticals and prefer to take natural substances instead. (However, a number of common drugs are derived from plants.)

Vitamins don't seem to reduce cardiovascular risks, according to a new report.

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There may be reasons to take a multivitamin, but improving your cardiovascular health is not one of them, says a report in the July 10 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The authors found that for the average person, taking a multivitamin supplement didn't help prevent cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes.

The findings were based on a review of general population studies conducted from 1970 to 2016, involving more than two million people. Researchers looked for associations between multivitamin supplementation and cardiovascular outcomes. But they weren't able to find any links.

Think you know a lot about skin and skin care? You might be surprised at how much "common knowledge" about keeping your skin clear and healthy is simply not true.

Here, we debunk 10 common myths about skin.

1. The right skin cream can keep your skin looking young.

Research we're watching

Wondering if that herb or herbal supplement is safe and effective? A new app can tell you. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has introduced a new app called HerbList, which provides research-based information on various herbal products.

The app, which is available free on the Apple App store and Google Play store, is designed to give consumers important details on the safety and effectiveness of some of the most popular herbs and herbal supplements. While marketers may claim these products bring health benefits and are safe, that might not always be the case. This app can help you sort through the claims to determine what's real — and what's not.

On call

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Q. I take fish oil supplements for heart health, but now I hear they aren't helpful. What's the truth?

A. Fish intake remains an important part of a healthy diet, but the enthusiasm for fish oil supplements has been dampened by several recent studies that showed no benefit for a variety of conditions.

Research we're watching

The FDA is warning consumers not to buy in to the idea that a pill can protect your skin from the sun.

In a statement issued May 22, FDA officials said they've found companies selling pills that are labeled as dietary supplements and that claim to protect skin from the sun.