RE: RDA's and supplementation

[Guest guest]

The original RDA's were established to prevent clinical deficiencies of

the noted

chemicals, or vitamins. Nothing I have read has indicated that the FDA has

changed this stance. In other words, if you are at the RDA, then you

shouldn't

get any of the nasty symptoms of not getting enough of these nutrients.

These

are guidelines only, and account for only a majority of the general

population.

Some people will still be deficient keeping themselves at the RDA level.

It is difficult, in today's world, to achieve RDA with food intake only.

I am sure

that most CRON'ers do, only because of the intense scrutiny of intake, but

the average person on the street just doesn't intake the required food

to meet

the RDA's.

If someone is very active, then no way, in my opinion, will they meet RDA,

much less exceed it.

Regards,

Don White

Seguin, Tx

[Guest guest]

The original RDA's were established to prevent clinical deficiencies of

the noted

chemicals, or vitamins. Nothing I have read has indicated that the FDA has

changed this stance. In other words, if you are at the RDA, then you

shouldn't

get any of the nasty symptoms of not getting enough of these nutrients.

These

are guidelines only, and account for only a majority of the general

population.

Some people will still be deficient keeping themselves at the RDA level.

It is difficult, in today's world, to achieve RDA with food intake only.

I am sure

that most CRON'ers do, only because of the intense scrutiny of intake, but

the average person on the street just doesn't intake the required food

to meet

the RDA's.

If someone is very active, then no way, in my opinion, will they meet RDA,

much less exceed it.

Regards,

Don White

Seguin, Tx

[Guest guest]

JAMA. 294(3):351-358, July 20, 2005

Essential Nutrients: Food or Supplements?: Where Should the Emphasis Be?

[special Communication]

Lichtenstein, Alice H. DSc; , M. MD

Corresponding Author: Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 (alice.lichtenstein@...).

Abstract

The consumption of adequate levels and proper balance of essential nutrients is critical for maintaining health. The identification, isolation, and purification of nutrients in the early 20th century raised the possibility that optimal health outcomes could be realized through nutrient supplementation. Recent attempts using this approach for cardiovascular disease and lung cancer have been disappointing, as demonstrated with vitamin E and beta carotene. Moreover, previously unrecognized risks caused by nutrient toxicity and nutrient interactions have surfaced during intervention studies. The most promising data in the area of nutrition and positive health outcomes relate to dietary patterns, not nutrient supplements. These data suggest that other factors in food or the relative presence of some foods and the absence of other foods are more important than the level of individual nutrients consumed. Finally, unknown are the implications on public health behavior of shifting the emphasis away from food toward nutrient supplements. Notwithstanding the justification for targeting recommendations for nutrient supplements to certain segments of the population (eg, the elderly), there are insufficient data to justify an alteration in public health policy from one that emphasizes food and diet to one that emphasizes nutrient supplements.

My ? is how to I detemine if I need more supps? And how much is too much? for me.

Regards.

Re: [ ]RDA's and supplementation

The original RDA's were established to prevent clinical deficiencies of the notedchemicals, or vitamins. Nothing I have read has indicated that the FDA haschanged this stance. In other words, if you are at the RDA, then you shouldn'tget any of the nasty symptoms of not getting enough of these nutrients. Theseare guidelines only, and account for only a majority of the general population.Some people will still be deficient keeping themselves at the RDA level.It is difficult, in today's world, to achieve RDA with food intake only. I am surethat most CRON'ers do, only because of the intense scrutiny of intake, butthe average person on the street just doesn't intake the required food to meetthe RDA's.If someone is very active, then no way, in my opinion, will they meet RDA,much less exceed it.Regards,Don WhiteSeguin, Tx

[Guest guest]

JAMA. 294(3):351-358, July 20, 2005

Essential Nutrients: Food or Supplements?: Where Should the Emphasis Be?

[special Communication]

Lichtenstein, Alice H. DSc; , M. MD

Corresponding Author: Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 (alice.lichtenstein@...).

Abstract

The consumption of adequate levels and proper balance of essential nutrients is critical for maintaining health. The identification, isolation, and purification of nutrients in the early 20th century raised the possibility that optimal health outcomes could be realized through nutrient supplementation. Recent attempts using this approach for cardiovascular disease and lung cancer have been disappointing, as demonstrated with vitamin E and beta carotene. Moreover, previously unrecognized risks caused by nutrient toxicity and nutrient interactions have surfaced during intervention studies. The most promising data in the area of nutrition and positive health outcomes relate to dietary patterns, not nutrient supplements. These data suggest that other factors in food or the relative presence of some foods and the absence of other foods are more important than the level of individual nutrients consumed. Finally, unknown are the implications on public health behavior of shifting the emphasis away from food toward nutrient supplements. Notwithstanding the justification for targeting recommendations for nutrient supplements to certain segments of the population (eg, the elderly), there are insufficient data to justify an alteration in public health policy from one that emphasizes food and diet to one that emphasizes nutrient supplements.

My ? is how to I detemine if I need more supps? And how much is too much? for me.

Regards.

Re: [ ]RDA's and supplementation

The original RDA's were established to prevent clinical deficiencies of the notedchemicals, or vitamins. Nothing I have read has indicated that the FDA haschanged this stance. In other words, if you are at the RDA, then you shouldn'tget any of the nasty symptoms of not getting enough of these nutrients. Theseare guidelines only, and account for only a majority of the general population.Some people will still be deficient keeping themselves at the RDA level.It is difficult, in today's world, to achieve RDA with food intake only. I am surethat most CRON'ers do, only because of the intense scrutiny of intake, butthe average person on the street just doesn't intake the required food to meetthe RDA's.If someone is very active, then no way, in my opinion, will they meet RDA,much less exceed it.Regards,Don WhiteSeguin, Tx

[Guest guest]

>>The original RDA's were established to prevent clinical deficiencies

of the noted chemicals, or vitamins. Nothing I have read has indicated

that the FDA has changed this stance. In other words, if you are at the

RDA, then you shouldn't get any of the nasty symptoms of not getting

enough of these nutrients.

That is why there are now RDIs, ADIs, and other recommendations.

You can read the data yourself here...

http://books.nap.edu/books/0309085373/html/19.html

>>These are guidelines only, and account for only a majority of the

general population.

Some people will still be deficient keeping themselves at the RDA level.

There are always " outlyers " to any bell curve, but the numbers in the

above recommendations are usually bumped up about 33%

>It is difficult, in today's world, to achieve RDA with food intake

only. .......but the average person on the street just doesn't intake

the required food to meet the RDA's.

I agree (and disagree). It is actually pretty easy to not only meet

the RDAs, but to surpass them. The problems is, as you said, the

average person doesn't choose to eat the foods that will help him

accomplish this. The problem is not food, per see, or the RDAs , per

see, or the RDIs, ADIs, etc, but the foods that people choose to eat.

>>If someone is very active, then no way, in my opinion, will they meet

RDA, much less exceed it.

Many (if not most) nutrient needs are not inlfuenced by activity level.

And, as activity level increases, so does calorie need, and as more

healthy food is consumed to meet the increased caloric need, there is a

corresponding increase in nutrient intake.

Jeff

[Guest guest]

>>The original RDA's were established to prevent clinical deficiencies

of the noted chemicals, or vitamins. Nothing I have read has indicated

that the FDA has changed this stance. In other words, if you are at the

RDA, then you shouldn't get any of the nasty symptoms of not getting

enough of these nutrients.

That is why there are now RDIs, ADIs, and other recommendations.

You can read the data yourself here...

http://books.nap.edu/books/0309085373/html/19.html

>>These are guidelines only, and account for only a majority of the

general population.

Some people will still be deficient keeping themselves at the RDA level.

There are always " outlyers " to any bell curve, but the numbers in the

above recommendations are usually bumped up about 33%

>It is difficult, in today's world, to achieve RDA with food intake

only. .......but the average person on the street just doesn't intake

the required food to meet the RDA's.

I agree (and disagree). It is actually pretty easy to not only meet

the RDAs, but to surpass them. The problems is, as you said, the

average person doesn't choose to eat the foods that will help him

accomplish this. The problem is not food, per see, or the RDAs , per

see, or the RDIs, ADIs, etc, but the foods that people choose to eat.

>>If someone is very active, then no way, in my opinion, will they meet

RDA, much less exceed it.

Many (if not most) nutrient needs are not inlfuenced by activity level.

And, as activity level increases, so does calorie need, and as more

healthy food is consumed to meet the increased caloric need, there is a

corresponding increase in nutrient intake.

Jeff