Focus On Vibrant Health – Vitamin Pills Can Do More Harm Than Good

NORTH FORK, CA – Most people believe that if vitamins are not effective, at least they are safe.  In reality, there is evidence that these chemicals can be downright harmful to your health.  They are not at all the same as the nutrients present in your food.  Synthetic vitamins are made by chemical, fermentation, or biotechnological manufacturers, and many of those manufacturers are pharmaceutical companies or companies that also supply the pharmaceutical industry.

All over the world people are using daily multivitamins and supplements, thinking that they are treating or preventing chronic disease.  They are easy to obtain and highly advertised.  Sales have dramatically increased since 1997, reaching $18.8 billion in sales in the United States by 2003.  For 2025 sales are estimated to have been $74 billion.

Quality control is also alarmingly lacking in the supplement industry.  Independent analysis shows that what is in the bottle often does not match what the label claims.  Not just in amounts, but in actual ingredients.  This has even been shown for some expensive products recommended by alternative practitioners.

Examples of Harm

Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble vitamin and thought to be a major component in the cell antioxidant defense system. It is exclusively obtained from the diet. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) taken as a supplement has been shown to increase the risk of prostate and lung cancer, increase the rate of heart failure in certain people, and to increase all-cause mortality.

Vitamin C is an important nutrient for humans. It is believed to perform numerous physiological functions such as antioxidant activity, modulation of the immune system, and synthesis of collagen, carnitine and neurotransmitters.  The synthetic chemical called vitamin C is actually L-ascorbic acid, and in no way represents the whole form found in food.  It can have pro-oxidant effects and can cause damage by stimulating lipid peroxidation.  Some studies show that long-term use can be harmful.  Vitamin C from food does not show these harmful effects.

Vitamin A is one of the fat-soluble vitamins that are thought to have antioxidant functions. It is provided by the diet in two forms: preformed vitamin A (which is only found in animal products) and carotenoid vitamin A precursors such as beta-carotene (found primarily in plants).  Vitamin A is essential for vision, embryogenesis, reproduction, the integrity of membrane structures, epithelial differentiation, growth, and development. A study with vitamin A and beta-carotene supplementation showed a 28% increase in lung cancer and 17% increase in deaths from all causes.  High doses of vitamin A can cause birth defects, and almost 1 in 57 infants whose mothers took >10000 IU/d of vitamin A supplements had a malformation.  Studies also show higher rates of osteoporosis.

Folic acid is synthetic folate, which is the form used in fortified foods and supplements.  Studies show supplementation with folic acid is associated with higher rates of lung cancer, prostate cancer, cancer-related mortality, and all-cause mortality.

Natural Supplements

Supplements that claim to be from whole foods or natural are often dehydrated, pulverized, and highly processed.  Typically the food is the base, and synthetic vitamins and minerals are added.  Only 10% of the ingredients need to be “natural”, and the other 90% is usually synthetic.  Beware of the word natural, it has very little meaning in this context.

Prenatal Vitamins

But what about making sure you get all of the nutrients you need for your baby?  Prenatal vitamins are a scam.  Most contain inadequate amounts of the needed nutrients, and they come from synthetic sources.  Eat real food.  Take concentrated whole food supplements as needed.

Real Food

It is best to get your vitamins and minerals from whole, unprocessed nutrient-dense real foods.  These foods contain a range of vitamin complexes, minerals, co-factors, enzymes, and many unidentified substances.  Nutrient dense foods include liver and other organ meats, egg yolks, bone marrow, meat and fats from pasture raised animals, fish eggs, shellfish, fatty fish, full fat dairy, bone broth, unrefined salt, fermented vegetables, and unrefined sweeteners such as raw honey and maple syrup.

Whole Food Supplements

The next best thing to eating the real, fresh foods are minimally processed products from these foods.  Examples include desiccated liver and other organs, cod liver oil, bovine tracheal cartilage powder, seaweed powders, freeze-dried whole food vitamin C powders.

Ineffective and Dangerous

Synthetic and other unnatural nutrients are mostly ineffective in preventing disease, and can be dangerous to your health.  Natural versions of these nutrients are very health-promoting.  Decades of research and thousands of studies demonstrate the effectiveness of these nutrients when naturally present in foods.  This is the form that can successfully prevent and treat disease.

Read additional articles here:  Focus On Vibrant Health.

Dr. Veronica Tilden can be your ally in having vibrant health.  She uses traditional hands-on osteopathy and helps you take responsibility for your health, guiding you to make better choices in your life.  She brings her 30 years of experience to her hometown at her office in North Fork.  You can find out more and schedule an appointment at DrVeronicaTilden.com.