NOW...General Info on Vitamins; WAS...Re: Supplement totals

[Guest guest]

Hi Haven,

Yep, he's also cartooning (thanks to his dad). That is very cool your son wants

to be an architect. You must have a lot of his 'blueprints' saved for his

keepsake scrapbook.

Our son stims when he finishes designing. It's not a constant stim, just when

he stops to admire his handy work.

I wasn't the one who mentioned excluding the multivit; we're on a multivit right

now, but I've got to find another that doesn't have vit A or E since our son is

on the 'high' side for them. I'm in the long process of revamping our

vit/min/acids & supps intake right now. The multivit we have is foodbased. I

try to avoid as much of the the synthetics for now.

Below is some info I found that might be helpful to others, it's long, and

definitely not meant to change anyone's vit protocol. Of course I found out on

a website that also has advertising on it. : )

Sheila

For what it's worth...

http://www.naturalsolutionsmag.com/article-display/15807/subTopicID/181/Making-S\

ense-of-Multivitamins

Which type of multivitamin should I choose?

" There are no studies that compare head-to-head the bioavailability of, say, a

multivitamin liquid versus a tablet, " says Shao, PhD, and senior vice

president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible

Nutrition. As a result, medical professionals often debate which type of

multivitamin has the best delivery system—although they do tend to agree on the

pros and cons of various formulations.

Powders and liquids

Pros: It's simple physics—a scoopful of powder or a shot of liquid has more

volume than one pill or capsule. Teitelbaum says you can get the equivalent of

35 multivitamin tablets in one serving of powder mixed in water. Liquids offer

similar multi-dose benefits. This is especially important for bulky minerals

like calcium and magnesium that can be difficult to fit into a tablet or

capsule. Liquids and powders can also be beneficial for those that have

difficulty swallowing tablets or gelcaps.

Cons: Powders and liquids usually contain sugar or artificial sweeteners to mask

the acrid taste of B vitamins, so look for products with natural sugar alcohols

like xylitol or sorbitol instead. Also, the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K

are difficult to get in liquid form, and may require additional supplementation.

Some liquids also contain chemical preservatives to prolong shelf life and

prevent bacteria from growing. These liquids can oxidize rapidly causing the

nutrients to loose potency quicker than a tablet or gelcap.

Tablets

Pros: Tablets are the most stable formulation, meaning the nutrients are much

less prone to oxidation and maintain potency for much longer periods of time,

compared to liquid multivitamins. They are also the most widely accessible

delivery system.

Cons: Tablets may contain a fewer amount of nutrients than liquids or powders

because binders (ingredients that give a tablet its shape) take up much of the

available space. That means you may have to take multiple pills to achieve the

recommended daily dosage. Also, because tablets are compressed so tightly

together, it makes it harder for stomach acids to completely dissolve the

tablets, thereby preventing absorption of some nutrients. For those with severe

allergies, check ingredients for lactose as it is sometimes used as a binder.

Look instead for binders made from cellulose, a natural plant fiber.

Gel capsules

Pros: Capsules' outer layer of gelatin is easily digestible, making the

vitamins' essential ingredients more bioavailable. The gel also serves as a

safe, natural binder.

Cons: Like tablets, gel capsules contain fewer nutrients than liquids or

powders, meaning you may have to take multiple pills to reach the recommended

daily dosage. Also, some gelatins are not vegetarian.

Gummies

Pros: These chewable, candy-like supplements are fun to take and easy to digest.

Cons: There are few adult formulations, and many contain sugar or artificial

sweeteners. Look for gummies made with xylitol sweeteners or natural berry

flavorings.

What's the best way to take a multivitamin?

Experts disagree on this issue as well. You can pack more vitamins and minerals

into a three-a-day pill than a one-a-day, but remembering to pop a multivitamin

every eight hours can be an elephantine task. Studies show that people who take

only one multivitamin tablet each morning are the least likely to forget a dose,

says Sasson E. Moulavi, MD, medical director of Smart for Life Weight Management

Centers. In short, if you are the kind of person who often misses a daily pill,

stick to the one-a-days, but if you are confident about your supplement regimen,

spacing out your multi intake to two or three times daily will improve

absorption.

But how should you ingest your morning multivitamin? With a hearty breakfast?

After you brush your teeth? Washed down with a grande skinny latte as you bolt

for the bus? Medical professionals make a case for each scenario. " If you take a

vitamin on a full stomach, your digestive enzymes are already working, so that

helps with absorption. Also, some vitamins and minerals are acidic—vitamin C,

calcium, magnesium, zinc—which can make some people nauseous if taken on an

empty stomach, " says P. Salerno, DO, medical director of the Salerno

Center, a holistic wellness center in New York City. But Teitelbaum argues that

because a multivitamin is essentially a mishmash of nutrients that are ingested

best in different ways—some on a full stomach, some on an empty stomach— " just

take it in the way that's easiest for you and let your body sort out how it's

absorbed. "

Should I buy a food-based or synthetic multivitamin?

There's passionate debate among nutritionists about whether vitamins should be

extracted directly from food or created in a lab. " Head-to-head studies haven't

been done to compare the stability, bioavailability, and health benefits of

food-based versus synthetic multivitamins, " Shao says. However, there is a lot

of anecdotal evidence. Many scientists argue that extracting a complex nutrient,

such as vitamin E—which is made up of eight different compounds—from its natural

source is the best way to ensure that all of its health-boosting components are

included. Yet some nutrients, such as folic acid, are only available in

synthetic form, and others, like vitamin C, are so difficult to get in a

complete form from food that multivitamins would have to be the size of horse

pills to fit in the recommended dosage. So what is the consensus? Most

natural-health experts favor a multivitamin that contains mainly food-based

nutrients.

Is an $80 bottle of multivitamins really 10 times better than an $8 one?

Fortunately, all of our experts can agree on this issue: When it comes to

multivitamins, pricier is not always better. That said, " all dietary supplements

are certainly not created equal, " Fernstrom says. One way to determine quality

is to check dosages of individual nutrients. Challem says a rule of thumb is if

a multivitamin contains at least 20 mg each of vitamins B1, B2, and B3, chances

are it is of good quality. Also look for what Moulavi calls " padding "

ingredients. " You don't need things like potassium phosphate and salt, so when I

see these I get suspicious that I'm just going to end up with expensive urine.

Another way to determine if a multivitamin is worth the money is to check its

bottle for a label from an independent testing organization such as the US

Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International, or the Natural Products Association's

Good Manufacturing Practices (NPA GMP). These groups establish elaborate

standards to analyze nutrient claims and manufacturing practices. The USP

Verified label, for instance, relies on input from pharmacy volunteers and

chemistry, biology, and toxicology industries, along with public forums, and is

then approved by the FDA.

Should my multivitamin contain ingredients like herbs and amino acids?

Multivitamins need to pack in so many essential vitamins and minerals, it is

almost impossible to get efficacious doses of other nutrients without taking

four or five pills a day, Teitelbaum says. " Asking for a one-a-day with herbs,

antioxidants, and amino acids is like going car shopping with an $8,000 budget

and asking for a car full of turbo doozies. " Even so, many experts believe the

antioxidant coenzyme Q10 can be a valuable addition to a multivitamin because

it's a powerful antioxidant. Check labels for dosages containing between 25 and

100 mg, Moulavi says.

>

> Sheila,

>

> Your son likes to design things too?! My son loves to design buildings

> inside and out using " Sketch Up. " He says he wants to be an architect.

>

> I think you are right. I think I need to exclude the multis. But then do I

> just buy B vitamins separate? Which B vitamins do you have your son on?

> when you say a 2:1 ration on the Cal/Mag is that twice the calcium as

> magnesium or twice the magnesium? I have him on about 400 mg a day of

> magnesium citrate but less calcium.

>

> I am going to stop the multis, I think that is where the glutamine is -- in

> one of those. But I thik he needs some B vitamins. what do you do for " B "

> vitamins?

>

> When my son is designing, the stimming is absent. His is present when he is

> not particularly engaged in anything or he is out swinging, which he loves

> to be on the swing.

>

> Thanks for all your help.

>

> Haven

>

>

>