Do Vitamin Pills Really Work?

"Unfortunately the issues of extensive soil depletion, economics, and an all round shortage of time make the processed alternatives more appealing to most people."

-can you tell me just in what way this makes ANY sense? First off, everything we eat, regardless of its extent of processing comes from the earth. In fact, the industrial agriculture complex, so-called agri-business, is responsible for the horrendous environmental impacts of large scale agricultural operations, soil erosion, water pollution, and air pollution. They are also the largest producers and promoters of processed goods.

You present this argument as though eating fruits and vegetables (which are able to be found locally, or even grown in your backyard with relatively minimal care) are contributing to the problem of soil erosion in the world. In reality, the most serious problems of soil erosion are found in the developing world, as a result of deforestation. this deforestation is largely a result of shifts in the agricultural systems as a result of inequitable trade agreements that allow the US and EU to maintain significant subsidies to their agricultural producers, particularly those that produce and market heavily processed food products. (McDonalds receives almost a million $USD every year in AGRICULTURAL subsidies)

So really, if you are that concerned about proper vitamin intake, absorbtion or any of that, don't blame soil erosion and economics for the laziness our society promotes through its over abundance of disgusting chemical concoctions (easy-mac anyone?) that only barely resemble the food they came from.

Wow - you've completely misunderstood me. I'm not the greatest of writers, and I think I failed to make the point I intended.

I agree with you! Notice I said "appealing to most people" - I believe that is an accurate assessment - most people don't care too much where their food comes from. That's not a defense. You might be interested to know that I spent two years running a small organic market garden based on permaculture principles.

The soil I was working in was known to be deficient in the micro-nutrient Selenium - whether due to historic volcanic activity or what - I'm not sure. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make here is that it seems the best way to get your vitamins is through whole fruit, nuts, and vegetables - however for many people it's far easier to buy a Big Mac and gulp down some vitamins that to attempt to grow these.

Even if you do buy fruit and vegetables from a supermarket - you cannot be sure that there is some micronutrient deficiency based on the intensive and highly fertilized mono-cultures that produce most of our fruit and veg.

It is a very small percentage of people that will go to a local farmers market or CSA to get their F&V. It's a shame - but that's just the way it is. Most people would rather eat all sorts of processed stuff and then try to fix it with loads of supplements. The only winners are the large supplement companies and food processors (the "money-making empire" that I was referring to).

I'm trying to figure out the mix of points in this entry

1) Help the reader determine whether vitamins are worthwhile
2) Rant about how our knowledge of nutrition, if any, is obscured by ignorance
3) Rant about the military-industiral-agriculture-pharmaceutical-Satan-everything-evil-complex
4) Sound controversial
5) Pretend to be a journalist but end up imitating the structure but not the content of an article (last paragraph really illustrates this)

No, I don't like blogs in general due to the pretense of most authors.

It's probably best to stick to one or two of the above, and not mix personal rants with information. And if you just want to share things you're personally exploring, drop the journalist imitation. Say something like "I read an article questioning the value of vitamins over the foods that naturally contain them. I wonder whether they are worth consideration when planning a diet. Perhaps it's another expensive placebo that companies can sell." (not that these are your thoughts, just an example)

Sorry if I come across as harsh. At least that means I'm not watering things down.

Blargg. You might want to read the disclaimer. I have no intention of pretending to be a journalist. What happens is that you read so many items from the press that you end up writing in that similar style.

The trouble is, when you start writing too many personal rants, the whole thing just degrades into a cynical diatribe.

Apart from providing some constructive criticism regarding writing style - what exactly is your point with regards to diet?

If anyone who reads this article takes vitamin supplements, i want to know where the nutrient content present in vitamins comes from. I have read that some vitamine producing laboratories add small amounts of a plant or herb to their products, trying to make the consumer think the particular supplement was derived from that plant or herb. reguardless if this is true or not, i want to know where the content of vitamin supplements actually comes from. Do these "vitamin-producing laboratories" actually distract the nutrients from truckloads of fruit, and put them into pill capsulls? how does the whole process work?

Hackerson: The vitamins in the majority of supplements are laboratory-synthesized molecules for the most part. Calcium is derived from oyster shells or chalk deposits. Some laboratories might extract a small portion of vitamins from plants to say they are botanical (thus costing more). Vitamins are no more than molecules that the body needs to perform optimally and most can be made using traditional organic chemistry synthesis techniques.

Synthesized vitamins are not as effective as their organic counterparts. Hence why more people take vitamin supplements than ever before, yet every major disease is on the rise. I understand that it's an indirect relationship, however, people should get their vitamins from food, not from a pill. I don't think vitamin supplementation actually hurts anybody, but too many people think of it as a gateway to eating less wholesome foods.

Maybe a little off the subject but does anyone out there know of any studies done on absorbtion rates or accessability of vitamins and minerals in most vitamins that are available. I have no doubt that we need to supplement our diets but which ones are doing any good and which ones are a waste of time and money.

Unfortunately the issues of extensive soil depletion, economics, and an all round shortage of time make the processed alternatives more appealing to most people."

-can you tell me just in what way this makes ANY sense? First off, everything we eat, regardless of its extent of processing comes from the earth. In fact, the industrial agriculture complex, so-called agri-business, is responsible for the horrendous environmental impacts of large scale agricultural operations, soil erosion, water pollution, and air pollution. They are also the largest producers and promoters of processed goods.

Interesting...
I have been trying to lose weight (for quite some time) and have been taking a vitamin supplement (Berocca) to keep my energy up.
I seem to be doing ok (drinking lots of water seems to be the key) but I don't want to be on a diet forever. I also don't want to be taking a supplement forever.
Considering I have been eating healthier (its part of the 'diet rules' believe it or not) AND taking a supplement I can only imagine that when I'm at my target weight and call the diet off I am going to really, really struggle.
Is it normal to take supplements for life. What if they're bad for us and I have been taking the tablet every day for 20 years!?

This is all so confusing. All I know is that the tablets are helping keep me upbeat without the pleasure of my favourite food - chips!

Berocca vitamin c supplement information here.

No one knows the origin of most of the vitamin ingredients thus the fraud that is perpetrated is harm less as it gives people something to blow their money on and keeps their mind occupied. The scarab (dung beetle) had it right. The USDA attempt to regulate was loudly defeated as this crowd does not want truth it wants fantacy. Think I will go to lottery vendor and get a ticket--now that is a fantacy that could pay off with only a measely 70,000,000 to one odds.

RE:Jack Ferguson. True. One does notknow the origin of most of the vitamin products on the market. Many are of
synthetic origin. I believe it is legal to label a product natural and still allow ingredients to be as low
as l0%natural and 90%synthetic. The problem is most of the synthetically derived are stimulants,with an effect
similar to drugs, sugar or caffeine, that is the reason
many feel a boost in energy. Stimulants often lead to
glandular problems. For 34 years, I have consumed food
supplements of natural plant origin with no chemical extracts used in the process. When selecting a health
product, ask which major medical journals have printed
the companys clinical research. Many have done research
without results that qualify for medical journals. There is a big difference between "vitamins" and Food supple-ments. check out my web site Jeanne McGowen CNC

Look for vitamins that use more bioavailable ingredients. Also, there are supplements derived from natural sources. I will list my personal choices:

AST Multi Pro 32X
500mg Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid)
Dessicated Liver Tablets
Kelp Capsules

The last three are in there because I am a bodybuilder and have much different nutritional needs. However, I do recommend AST Multi Pro 32X, especially if you're active.

I don't think that vitamin pills work, dear. You cannot obtain your nutritional needs simply by taking a pill, food has to be your main source of vitamins and minerals. Most of those pills are worthless anyway. They are created cheaply in laboratories using very low-quality ingredients which are synthetic and not organic and they are mainly composed of binders and fillers and chemical coatings, with the vitamin and mineral content the smallest part of the pill. They are inorganic, they have no bioavailability at all, they are overpriced and worthless as a health aid.

There have also been some scientific studies recently that have refuted health claims made for these pills. Volunteers have swallowed supplements for years and have been tested for health effects from taking these over a five year period. Unsurprisingly, health effects were negligible and the volunteers who took them still died of strokes, heart attacks, cancer etc. Please don't waste your money on worthless pills, try eating a healthy, well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water, This is better than bought tablets from a chemist or supermarket.

Me too. I dont think the vitamin pills may work. I had been tried some for a while and I am still the same nothing change since then.