The Attack On Supplements

. . .Two new "junk science" studies provide ammunition The supplement industry has been under attack lately by the FDA and certain members of Congress acting in the interests of Big Pharma. Now two new studies have appeared that provide ammunition by seeming to corroborate the old chestnut that vitamin and mineral supplements are useless, if not downright dangerous, and that we are better off meeting our nutrient needs with a healthy diet. The first study found that older women living in Iowa who took dietary supplements died at slightly higher rates than women who did not take supplements. The second was terminated when researchers found that taking vitamin E was increasing the risk of developing prostate cancer. Before looking at these studies more closely, let's remember that as far back as 1998, the National Academy of Sciences issued a statement that most people can no longer get all the nutrients they need from diet alone, even if they eat an especially good diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. And that the Journal of the American Medical Association published a landmark study in 2002 that analyzed 36 years of data to conclude that every American needs at least a daily multi in addition to a healthy diet regardless of age or health. Let us also not forget the thousands of studies that have shown that those who take specific supplements fare far better than their non-supplement-taking counterparts in dealing with just about every disease.