Food Supplements

[Neo]

There has been published research recently on the ineffectiveness of pills as dietary supplements. While the supposed contents might be good for you, the method of delivery can be ineffective at best and dangerous at worst.

Interesting, could you link me to the study you mentioned?

I'll see if i can dig out that copy of New Scientist, it was the front page story.

[marco_funny]

most of the nutritional supplements sold in Thailand are manufactured under a license from US pharmaceutical companies, they contains very very high doses of Vitamin A and others more then the recommended daily value, personally i buy my supplements over the Net , i choose those ones who have very low doses example 40% of recommended daily values.

[Dr_Mike]

By the way, NEO is completely accurate on the report.

January 16, 2009 (Rockville, Maryland) ? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded a warning about tainted weight-loss products that contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients, some of which can cause important cardiovascular side effects. The FDA analysis found that these products contained sibutramine, phenytoin, phenolphthalein, and bumetanide.

One product, known as Phyto Shape, even contained rimonabant, the cannabinoid-receptor blocker that has been linked to neurological and psychiatric side effects. In 2007, an FDA advisory committee unanimously said no to rimonabant, and Sanofi-Aventis, the maker of rimonabant, eventually halted all clinical research with the weight-loss drug.

The expanded list ups the number of contaminated weight-loss products from 28 to 69. The original advisory was issued December 22, 2008. According to an FDA press release, the agency has inspected some companies associated with the sale of these illegal products and is currently seeking product recalls. Additional enforcement steps, such as warning letters, initiating seizures, injunctions, or criminal charges, are also possible.

The weight-loss products are often marketed as dietary supplements and said to contain only natural or herbal ingredients. Some of the tainted weight-loss products include Extrim Plus 24 Hour Reburn, Body Creator, and Body Slimming, which contain sibutramine, and 24-Hours Diet, which contains phenolphthalein.

Sibutramine, a prescription drug to treat obesity, may cause tachycardia, palpitations, hypertension, stroke, MI, and seizures. Phenytoin is an approved antiseizure medication, and bumetanide a diuretic. Phenolphthalein was an ingredient in some over-the-counter laxative products until the FDA reclassified the drug as "not generally recognized as safe and effective." It has also been shown to be potentially carcinogenic.

Food and Drug Administration. FDA expands warning to consumers about tainted weight loss pills. January 8, 2008. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01933.html.

[MisterMatlock]

A little bit of supplementation (Vitamins etc) would help IMO. Doesnt need to be chemicals... it could be organics like "Spirulina".

At the end of the day, a supplement is just what the name says it is...it 'supplements' or add's to the existing.

Getting vitamins from natural food is waaaaaaaay better than taking pills. There has been published research recently on the ineffectiveness of pills as dietary supplements. While the supposed contents might be good for you, the method of delivery can be ineffective at best and dangerous at worst.

I read the same article and agree. It has to do with the combination of nutrients in natural foods and how they work together. Natural foods can have thousands of different compounds in them. As Neo said, the delivery of the nutrients in various supplements is considered "inferior" in the article.

[Neo]

Here's an excerpt from the New Scientist article...

ONE in two Americans takes multivitamin pills regularly, so they must be doing some good, right? Not necessarily, says an expert panel set up to assess the health effects of multivitamin and mineral supplements.

The panel, appointed by the National Institutes of Health, says there is little evidence that such supplements are of any benefit to already healthy people, and could sometimes actually cause harm. Taking extra vitamin D combined with calcium can increase the risk of kidney stones, while smokers who take beta-carotene to fend off lung cancer actually increase their risk, the report says.

... it goes on with more reasons to give up vitamin pills. Apparently most claims for the benefits of various vitamins are based on consuming them in naturally occurring foods rather than in vitamin pills. And it turns out the pill versions don't have the same effect.

[Dr_Mike]

Here's an excerpt from the New Scientist article...

ONE in two Americans takes multivitamin pills regularly, so they must be doing some good, right? Not necessarily, says an expert panel set up to assess the health effects of multivitamin and mineral supplements.

The panel, appointed by the National Institutes of Health, says there is little evidence that such supplements are of any benefit to already healthy people, and could sometimes actually cause harm. Taking extra vitamin D combined with calcium can increase the risk of kidney stones, while smokers who take beta-carotene to fend off lung cancer actually increase their risk, the report says.

... it goes on with more reasons to give up vitamin pills. Apparently most claims for the benefits of various vitamins are based on consuming them in naturally occurring foods rather than in vitamin pills. And it turns out the pill versions don't have the same effect.

That is also clinically proven to be certain. Vitamin D is also known to be a major contributing factor in Sarcoidosis and several other diseases.

[Count_Jason]

Just food does me. Bleh.

[Guest ezywalker]

I agree with "Tuck". I take Spiraluna, NASA use it whilst upstairs.... I wonder if Buzz used to much... :shock:

[renaldo]

I do my gym on regularly basis basis so i prefer protein products to take.many protein products as well as other nutraceuticals are sold illegally, meaning that they haven't been registered with the Thai FDA and do not bear the Thai FDA registration number.

[Malton]

Well!!Supplement foods are the best source to get the energy.Nutritional supplements are used

for many purposes. They can be added to the diet to boost overall health and energy; to provide

immune system support and reduce the risks of illness and age-related conditions...

Edited February 28, 2013 by Malton