Dietary supplements; healthy or harmful

hopeful and optimistic
hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
edited June 2012 in Prostate Cancer #1
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22275325



Help


Result Filters




Display Settings:
Abstract










Send to:












































JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2012 Mar;36(2):159-68. Epub 2012 Jan 24.

Do dietary supplements have beneficial health effects in industrialized nations: what is the evidence?

Marik PE, Flemmer M.


Source

Department of Medicine and the Nutrition Study Group, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, USA. marikpe@evms.edu


Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Dietary supplements are regularly used by at least half of the American population, yet the health benefits of these agents are unclear.

OBJECTIVE:

A systematic review to determine the benefits and risks of dietary supplements in Westernized societies.

DATA SOURCES:

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials and citation review of relevant articles.

STUDY SELECTION:

Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in non-pregnant Westernized adults that evaluated clinical outcomes of nutritional supplements.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Data were abstracted on study design, study size, study setting, patient population, dietary intervention and clinical outcomes. The outcome of each study was classified as non-beneficial, beneficial or harmful according to whether the end-point(s) of interest reached statistical significance.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Sixty-three studies met the criteria for our systematic review. No benefit was recorded in 45 studies, with 10 of these showing a trend towards harm and with two showing a trend towards benefit. Four studies reported harm with increased cancer deaths (n=2) and increased fractures (n=2). Two studies reported both a harmful as well as a beneficial outcome. A beneficial outcome was reported in 12 studies; 6 which studied vitamin D and three which investigated omega-3 fatty acids. While a benefit was reported in one study each which investigated Vitamin E, folic acid and Ginkgo biloba this benefit was not confirmed by larger and more adequately powered studies.

CONCLUSIONS:

With the possible exceptions of Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids there is no data to support the widespread use of dietary supplements in Westernized populations; indeed, many of these supplements may be harmful.


Comment in
Review of supplements ignores evidence-based nutrition to promote tighter regulation. [JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2012]




PMID: 22275325 [PubMed - in process]


LinkOut - more resources

Comments

  • Beau2
    Beau2 Member Posts: 261
    #2
    Vitamins
    Thanks for the study, very helpful.

    Based on advice in Dr. Moyad's book I had cut back to Vitamin D and Omega-3 (every day) plus a low dose One-A-Day vitamin (every other day). Based on this report I'll probably drop the multiple vitamin completely.

    Thanks for posting the information
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #3
    What Harmful Supplements?
    The abstract mentions the benefits of Vitamin D and Fish Oil (omega 3 fatty acids) but does not say anything about what supplements may be harmful.

    Have you read the full report of the study and, if so, what supplements were considered actually or potentially harmful?

    I take 2000 IU of Vitamin D3 (on my doctor's advice because of a low Vit D reading) and 1g of fish oil twice daily (AM/PM) and have been doing so since I was diagnosed w/PCa.

    I also take a "mature" adult multi-vitamin (without any iron in it) once daily and stopped taking additional calcium supplements on the advice of my cancer nutritionist, after she told me that iron and calcium are both linked with prostate cancer.

    The nutritionist also said that that the multi-vitamin was probably unnecessary, provided that I was eating a balanced diet, but did not say that taking it would be harmful. There is some calcium in it but not an excessive amount. So, I still take that daily just in case I'm not getting all of the nutrients I need from my diet.

    BTW: I'm currently on a weight loss regime and am using an iPhone app called "MyFitnessPal" to count calories and monitor my food intake and weight loss progress daily. It includes an estimate of my calcium and iron intake from the food I eat. So, I immediately know when my iron and calcium intake is excessive. It also calculates my daily intake of "good" vs "bad" fat, sodium & cholesterol.
  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
    #4
    trying to make the best decision
    I read a book by Dr. Charles Myers about hormone therapy and diet that was written a while ago, I think 1999 or so. He wrote about taking a pomegranate supplement on a daily basis, and lycopene 10mg doses which is about what a body can absorb at one time, at times during the day when lycopene food source is not available.(By the way, Dr. Snuffy Myers is publishing another book on nutrition in about a month).
    Now I am reading another dated book, “the ABC’S of nutrition & supplements for prostate cancer, 2000 by Mark Moyad, m.d.,m.p.h. In this book Dr. M says no to lycopene supplements since they were not tested thoroughly at that time. So I went to PubMed to research these supplements to see what studies have been done, and did not see any studies listed for them, but I did come across the above posted study about supplements.
    So anyway based on the above posted study I have decided not to continue taking these supplements until I see supporting documentation to show that it will be helpful, not harmful.
    …………………………………..
    D3 …Last week I was tested and my number was low at 26, 30-100 being normal. I am currently taking 2000 I.U. daily and walking in the early morning sun for about 45 minutes or so. I will ask that the d3 test be included in my next blood work which will be in about 6 months(if that is an appropriate wait?)
  • tonybuxton
    tonybuxton Member Posts: 88
    #5
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    trying to make the best decision
    I read a book by Dr. Charles Myers about hormone therapy and diet that was written a while ago, I think 1999 or so. He wrote about taking a pomegranate supplement on a daily basis, and lycopene 10mg doses which is about what a body can absorb at one time, at times during the day when lycopene food source is not available.(By the way, Dr. Snuffy Myers is publishing another book on nutrition in about a month).
    Now I am reading another dated book, “the ABC’S of nutrition & supplements for prostate cancer, 2000 by Mark Moyad, m.d.,m.p.h. In this book Dr. M says no to lycopene supplements since they were not tested thoroughly at that time. So I went to PubMed to research these supplements to see what studies have been done, and did not see any studies listed for them, but I did come across the above posted study about supplements.
    So anyway based on the above posted study I have decided not to continue taking these supplements until I see supporting documentation to show that it will be helpful, not harmful.
    …………………………………..
    D3 …Last week I was tested and my number was low at 26, 30-100 being normal. I am currently taking 2000 I.U. daily and walking in the early morning sun for about 45 minutes or so. I will ask that the d3 test be included in my next blood work which will be in about 6 months(if that is an appropriate wait?)

    supplements
    I think most Doctors will agree that if you eat a really healthy diet you do not need any supplements. But for those of us that have prostate cancer there seems to a strong co-census that Vitamin D and Omega 3 are helpful. But there again if you live in a sunny climate you can get vitamin d from the sun and Omega 3 from oily fish like salmon.
    The "vitamin supplement" industry is a huge money maker and the manufacturers do make a lot of false claims to enhance business.
  • Beau2
    Beau2 Member Posts: 261
    #6
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    trying to make the best decision
    I read a book by Dr. Charles Myers about hormone therapy and diet that was written a while ago, I think 1999 or so. He wrote about taking a pomegranate supplement on a daily basis, and lycopene 10mg doses which is about what a body can absorb at one time, at times during the day when lycopene food source is not available.(By the way, Dr. Snuffy Myers is publishing another book on nutrition in about a month).
    Now I am reading another dated book, “the ABC’S of nutrition & supplements for prostate cancer, 2000 by Mark Moyad, m.d.,m.p.h. In this book Dr. M says no to lycopene supplements since they were not tested thoroughly at that time. So I went to PubMed to research these supplements to see what studies have been done, and did not see any studies listed for them, but I did come across the above posted study about supplements.
    So anyway based on the above posted study I have decided not to continue taking these supplements until I see supporting documentation to show that it will be helpful, not harmful.
    …………………………………..
    D3 …Last week I was tested and my number was low at 26, 30-100 being normal. I am currently taking 2000 I.U. daily and walking in the early morning sun for about 45 minutes or so. I will ask that the d3 test be included in my next blood work which will be in about 6 months(if that is an appropriate wait?)

    Moyad
    Moyad has a 2010 (3rd edition) of his book "Promoting Wellness for Prostate Cancer Patients". I mention it because he does a good job of including new studies in his updates. Also, he has a 2011 book out that you may want to look at called, "Beyond Hormone Therapy, Options for Prostate Cancer Patients" (see chapter 10 on diets and supplements). Finally he also has a book called "A Step by Step Guide to What Works and What's Worthless", which has additional information on improving diet.

    You may already be aware of all of these books, and I apologize if I am carrying coal to Newcastle.

    Concerning vitamin D, you may want to check out the Vitamin D Council website. Some folks figure the council is a quack or a shill ... But how much money is made off of selling vitamin D? ... They almost give it away! Anyhow, over the years, I have found them on the forefront of providing updated information on vitamin D.
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #7
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    trying to make the best decision
    I read a book by Dr. Charles Myers about hormone therapy and diet that was written a while ago, I think 1999 or so. He wrote about taking a pomegranate supplement on a daily basis, and lycopene 10mg doses which is about what a body can absorb at one time, at times during the day when lycopene food source is not available.(By the way, Dr. Snuffy Myers is publishing another book on nutrition in about a month).
    Now I am reading another dated book, “the ABC’S of nutrition & supplements for prostate cancer, 2000 by Mark Moyad, m.d.,m.p.h. In this book Dr. M says no to lycopene supplements since they were not tested thoroughly at that time. So I went to PubMed to research these supplements to see what studies have been done, and did not see any studies listed for them, but I did come across the above posted study about supplements.
    So anyway based on the above posted study I have decided not to continue taking these supplements until I see supporting documentation to show that it will be helpful, not harmful.
    …………………………………..
    D3 …Last week I was tested and my number was low at 26, 30-100 being normal. I am currently taking 2000 I.U. daily and walking in the early morning sun for about 45 minutes or so. I will ask that the d3 test be included in my next blood work which will be in about 6 months(if that is an appropriate wait?)

    Vit D3
    Hopeful:

    I was taking 1000 IU of Vit D3 twice daily (AM/PM) for a year but it only raised my level to 36 from 24.

    My doc told me to increase the twice daily dosage to 2000 IU, which is what I'm doing now but don't plan to get retested until next spring (2013).

    Since you are at the same Vit D level that I was a year ago, you may want to go to 2000 IU twice daily as well. Six months is probably long enough to see any changes.

    Good luck!
  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
    #8
    March 25, 2010. : "Clinical Consequences of Vitamin d deficiency
    http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1311218266001?bckey=AQ~~,AAABMTO41yk~,0BDF4jnPRYk18rLHqrcfnGVhJxC-Y8Rm&bctid=1355645526001
  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,701 Member
    #9
    hopeful and optimistic said:

    March 25, 2010. : "Clinical Consequences of Vitamin d deficiency
    http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1311218266001?bckey=AQ~~,AAABMTO41yk~,0BDF4jnPRYk18rLHqrcfnGVhJxC-Y8Rm&bctid=1355645526001

    Thanks for the link
    Deficiency in D is worrisome for the importance it holds in the treatment of prostate cancer.
    I appreciate the link. How can one get a copy of this video?

    VG
  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
    #10
    VascodaGama said:

    Thanks for the link
    Deficiency in D is worrisome for the importance it holds in the treatment of prostate cancer.
    I appreciate the link. How can one get a copy of this video?

    VG

    copy of video
    I am sure that there are those who are at this site, and know the best procedure to copy thsi video, and others.

    I am thinking that one can make a copy of the video.....I don't know what equipment you have available, but basically I believe you can download these videos using a mpeg4 or similar; then save on your hard drive , and then use a DVD SHRINK 3.2 or a similar device to make a hard copy.

    Hopefully others, more computer knowledgeable can give input on how to copy this video

    ............

    If this doesn't work I can hopefully get a copy of the video to you, from the forum.
  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
    #11
    VascodaGama said:

    Thanks for the link
    Deficiency in D is worrisome for the importance it holds in the treatment of prostate cancer.
    I appreciate the link. How can one get a copy of this video?

    VG

    copy of video
    I am sure that there are those who are at this site, and know the best procedure to copy thsi video, and others.

    I am thinking that one can make a copy of the video.....I don't know what equipment you have available, but basically I believe you can download these videos using a mpeg4 or similar; then save on your hard drive , and then use a DVD SHRINK 3.2 or a similar device to make a hard copy.

    Hopefully others, more computer knowledgeable can give input on how to copy this video

    ............

    If this doesn't work I can hopefully get a copy of the video to you, from the forum.
  • tonybuxton
    tonybuxton Member Posts: 88
    #12
    supplements.
    coments allready made in a previos post

Discussion Boards