Re: Re: Supplementation and CRON / healthy centenarians

[Guest guest]

Just today on the US National news (NBC) they reported that vitamins do zilch for one’s health. They specifically reported E, C, and selenium that were tested. But previously others have been tested in studies and found not to affect one’s chances of illness.

They also said that eating a healthy diet is the best way to stay healthy.

Just a word on folic acid – if one is a CRON follower that means plenty of folic acid in your diet already via greens.

I am reminded of Jeff’s post a while back about centenarians who were not only old but healthy and vital. Some were found to have vitamin deficiencies. Moral: this may not be an important issue for living a long, healthy life. Since I read this I don’t concern myself with this anymore. Here is Jeff’s post:

/message/27065

From: Rodney <perspect1111@...>

Reply-< >

Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:15:31 -0000

< >

Subject: [ ] Re: Supplementation and CRON

Hi :

'Supplements' is a very thorny, and very unsettled, issue.

As Francesca said, many nutrient supplements, once thought to be

beneficial, have now been shown in large studies to, at best, make no

difference or, at worst, increase cancer incidence.

We all have to make our own decisions about this. FWIW the following

is my current approach (but I am quite sure that ten years from now I

will not be doing the same! As more studies are published I will adapt

accordingly):

1. I have checked, given what I normally eat, what my nutrient

deficiencies are. (IMO CRON-o-meter is an excellent free way to do

this). Then I supplement the deficient nutrients up to the RDAs. FOR

ME this means supplementing calcium and zinc and vitamins D and E. All

I need for vitamin E and zinc is one capsule/tablet a week. For

calcium and vitamin D I supplement daily.

I also take a few other things once a week: an aspirin (for colon

cancer prevention), folic acid, chromium and fish oil.

I take SMALL quantities of all these things, except vitamin D which I

supplement 2000 to 3000 IU per day.

As noted earlier, ten years from now I will not be doing the same as we

will all know a lot more about this than we do now.

Hope this helps provide one perspective of this issue. I would be

interested in hearing the perspectives of others, especially if they

are different from mine.

Rodney.

<mailto: %40> , " michaeltatzber " <michaeltatzber@...>

wrote:

>

> I just finished Walfords book (120 ...) and wanted to know if you guys

> are still following the recommendations regarding supplements in terms

> of amounts and what kind or did something change over the last 10

> years. Does anyone have a list of supplements to take or even products

> which you know are of high quality.

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

As I reported in my original post on this subject:

/message/28043

Note that the only supplements I take are D3 and fish oil. And I only take Vit D in the winter. Although I use sunscreen on my face in the summer, I get plenty of sun on legs and arms in warmer weather.

From: citpeks <citpeks@...>

Reply-< >

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:49:41 -0000

< >

Subject: [ ] Re: Supplementation and CRON / healthy centenarians

Francesca,

Although many vitamins don't seem to do much, it seems that vitamin D

is an exception. Because we spend most of our time indoors and lather

on sunblock lotions when we go out in the sun to avoid skin cancer, we

are very depleted in vitamin D. The following article has a figure

that shows that 2000 IU per day of Vitamin D virtually wipes out the

incidence of cold/influenza symptoms.

Use of vitmain D in clinical practice

http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/13/1/6.pdf

I looked at Jeff's post which you referenced. He indicated that

Okinawans " in spite of their nutrient dense diet, they were short on

several nutrients. " One of which was (Vitamin D at 2% RDA). However,

from the films that I have seen, traditional Okinawans spent a lot of

time outdoors either fishing or cultivating the land. So they got

their vitamin D from sun exposure.

I think that Rodney, living in Canada where the sun is dimmer, is

doing the right thing by supplementing vitamin D.

Tony

>

> Just today on the US National news (NBC) they reported that vitamins do

> zilch for one’s health. They specifically reported E, C, and

selenium that

> were tested. But previously others have been tested in studies and

found

> not to affect one’s chances of illness.

>

> They also said that eating a healthy diet is the best way to stay

healthy.

>

> Just a word on folic acid – if one is a CRON follower that means

plenty of

> folic acid in your diet already via greens.

>

> I am reminded of Jeff’s post a while back about centenarians who

were not

> only old but healthy and vital. Some were found to have vitamin

> deficiencies. Moral: this may not be an important issue for living

a long,

> healthy life. Since I read this I don’t concern myself with this

anymore.

> Here is Jeff’s post:

>

> /message/27065

>

>

[Guest guest]

An additional comment...

we have a poorly regulated supplement industry with questionable

ethics. In regard to zinc, this just came out today from Consumer

Labs..

New

Product Review: Zinc Supplements (Pills, Liquids, Lozenges, and Vision

Formulas)

Zinc

supplements have many proven uses. But ConsumerLab.com found that only one out of

four zinc lozenges provided the dosage known to reduce the duration and

severity of a cold. Only two

supplements had the exact formula shown to prevent the progression

of macular eye disease. And among general zinc supplements, CL found

that one was contaminated with lead.

Regards

Jeff

..

[Guest guest]

If known, please post the brands that reduce the severity of colds. And the ones that prevent macular degeneration..

From: Novick <jnovickrd@...>

Reply-< >

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:46:57 -0500

< >

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Supplementation and CRON / healthy centenarians

An additional comment...

we have a poorly regulated supplement industry with questionable ethics. In regard to zinc, this just came out today from Consumer Labs..

New Product Review: Zinc Supplements (Pills, Liquids, Lozenges, and Vision Formulas)

Zinc supplements have many proven uses. But ConsumerLab.com found that only one out of four zinc lozenges provided the dosage known to reduce the duration and severity of a cold. Only two supplements had the exact formula shown to prevent the progression of macular eye disease. And among general zinc supplements, CL found that one was contaminated with lead.

Regards

Jeff

..

[Guest guest]

What CL Found:

Aside from one zinc supplement found to be contaminated with lead

(discussed further, below) all of the supplements met quality standards.

All contained their claimed amounts of zinc and tablet/caplet products

were able to properly break apart to release their ingredients.

However, there are notable differences among the products that should be

considered:

Vision supplements

Two of the products, Ocuvite Preser-Vision and ICAPS Eye Vitamin AREDS

Formula, are both designed to provide the same daily combination of

vitamins and minerals shown to be effective in the AREDS study. Ocuvite

Preser-Vision is the actual product used in the AREDS trial. ICAPS

differs in that its tablets are delayed-release, which the package

claims, “dissolve gradually, thereby contributing to a greater

absorption by the body, and less stomach upset…” Although the product

has probably not been tested to validate this claim, zinc can cause

stomach upset and delayed release may benefit some people. Both of these

products were also tested, and passed, for their vitamin A content.

Natural Vision Care, a liquid “drinkable” supplement, contains many of

the same ingredients as the two other vision products but in much lower

amounts per suggested 1 ounce daily serving: 15 mg of zinc, 5,000 IU of

vitamin A, 60 mg of vitamin C, 30 IU of vitamin E, and 0.6 mg of copper.

Natural Vision Care uniquely includes lutein (3 mg) and zeaxanthin (.8

mg), which are anti-oxidant carotenoids found in high concentration in

the macula of the eye and may improve vision in people with age-related

macular degeneration. As noted in theProduct Review of Lutein and

Zeaxanthin Supplements, 10 mg per day of lutein supplementation appears

to be a useful dose.

Lozenges

Among the four lozenges, there was significant variation in the zinc per

lozenge (from 5 mg to 23 mg) and the suggested daily serving. Clinical

studies that have shown a benefit used products containing 13.3 mg to 23

mg of zinc per lozenge, taken every two hours while awake. Only

Cold-Eeze All Natural Cherry suggested a dosage known to be effective

for reducing the severity and duration of cold symptoms — 13.3 mg every

2 hours. Sundown Naturals Zinc Lozenges Plus Vitamin C and Echinacea

provided 23 mg of zinc per lozenge but advised taking only one to two

per day. Sunkist Zinc Throat Lozenges provided only 5 mg of zinc and

suggested " 2 - 8 times daily. " Zand Lemon Zinc Herbalozenge, also

provided only 5 mg of zinc simply advised " May be repeated as needed. "

(See ConsumerTips for information about dosage and safety issues).

General zinc pills

The zinc pills and liquids generally provided 25 mg to 50 mg of zinc.

These amounts are in the correct range for treating zinc deficiencies or

providing high dose zinc to potentially treat or prevent various

conditions (see Using Zinc in the ConsumerTips section).

Francesca Skelton wrote:

>

> If known, please post the brands that reduce the severity of colds.

> And the ones that prevent macular degeneration..

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> *From: * Novick <jnovickrd@...>

> *Reply-*< >

> *Date: *Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:46:57 -0500

> **< >

> *Subject: *Re: [ ] Re: Supplementation and CRON / healthy

> centenarians

>

>

>

>

> An additional comment...

>

> we have a poorly regulated supplement industry with questionable

> ethics. In regard to zinc, this just came out today from Consumer Labs..

>

> New Product Review: Zinc Supplements (Pills, Liquids, Lozenges, and

> Vision Formulas)

>

> Zinc supplements have many proven uses. But ConsumerLab.com found that

> only one out of four zinc lozenges provided the dosage known to reduce

> the duration and severity of a cold. Only two supplements had the

> exact formula shown to prevent the progression of macular eye disease.

> And among general zinc supplements, CL found that one was contaminated

> with lead.

>

>

>

>

> Regards

> Jeff

> .

>

>

>