Vitamin Supplements: Hype or Help?

539 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: nutrition analysis paper about vitamins

Vitamin Supplements: Hype or Help?

The Tribulations of Vitamins

The worldwide obsession of vitamin supplements has exponentially risen and vitamins have entrenched themselves in the lives of individuals due to a fallacious contention promoting the ideology that vitamins are beneficial. More and more scientific research has identified the health benefits to be “less spectacular than advertised” (Lemstra). Researchers from Johns Hopkins University are cited as saying, “most supplements do not prevent chronic disease or death, their use is not justified, and they should be avoided.” Vitamin supplements fail to live up to the “hype” and are marred with risks to users.

The relative ineffectiveness of Vitamins is a generally undocumented case. After a decade of testing a Vitamin pill to hinder Alzheimer’s by boosting cognitive conduct, Harvard researchers proclaimed the ineffectiveness of the pill. This is one of many cases unveiling the ineffectual state of Vitamins. Annals of Internal Medicine urges that Vitamins A, E, B, and Beta Carotine supplements, to name a few, are ineffect...

Show More
Related

  • Atwood's Oryx and Crake: Chaos Then, Chaos Now, Chaos Later

    1489 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brownstein, Joseph. “Some common vitamin supplements could increase death risk, study finds.” 10 October 2011. Vitals on mnsbc.com. Web. 11 January 2012. http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news

    Read More

  • Regulating Dietary Supplements

    2092 Words  | 5 Pages

    With all the unregulated dietary supplements being sold and recommended, our health insurance costs will continue to rise. If the product causes severe side effects, it should no longer be permitted to be sold in stores. The only way to touch the minds of many people is to inform them of the dangers of consuming dietary supplements. Disposing of all incorrect information in product labeling and ingredient lists is important. People need to recognize the faults that plague many advertisements. In addition businesses should promote safe products instead of the harmful ones that they advocate for. The United States Congress should consider regulating dietary supplements to maintain safety. If people are aware of the many lies companies present, then dietary supplements will be one less problem to worry about.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Dietary Supplements

    1984 Words  | 4 Pages

    “About 150 million people in the US use dietary supplements; about 79% use it on a daily bases, and 10% taking 5 or more per day” (Ranjani 478). Dietary supplements range from sports performance products, weight loss products, to a variety of herbal remedies. These supplements are used widely to help maintain or improve the health of the human body. While buying these products many assume that they are regulated and are safe for human consumption, however it may not be the case. “Supplements face no FDA requirements for premarket testing. Supplements can be placed on the market at the will of the makers and then remain legal for sale” (Quinones 32). Dietary supplements should be regulated like prescription drugs because it’s a safety hazard, can become addictive, and may lead to dangerous health problems.

    Read More

  • Alzheimer's Disease Essay

    1582 Words  | 4 Pages

    The research into the effect Vitamin A has on Alzheimer’s disease needs to be furthered. One avenue to further it would be examining retinoic acids in vivo. This would allow the retinoid mechanisms of action and their receptors in Alzheimer’s disease to be better understood. Another method to further research would be to study the affect retinoic acid has on amyloid β in Alzheimer’s disease using different techniques, such as histopathological observation.

    Read More

  • Alzheimers Disease

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...t one has it. Many scientists hypothesize that there is an inflammatory response in the brain when there is an extensive B-42 amassing. To slow or stop this, scientists theorize that the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, could delay the swelling in the brain. Also, as scientists have known that taking a multi-vitamin tablet each day is good for you, there has been recent research demonstrating that the use of antioxidants may protect neurons, not just the immune system and keeping the body healthy by providing vitamins and minerals. These special supplements protect the neurons from the effects of the accruing B-Amyloid that would likely cause the plaque that causes AD.

    Read More

  • Nutrition Essay

    3055 Words  | 7 Pages

    In conclusion, the potential implications of the proposed research for practice is that if supplements are being used as a substitute for a healthy diet in today’s society due to a lack of understanding food labels. Investigate what the impacts of this are on health, if any and further education about food labelling may be necessary. The benefit of this understanding to the NHS is the possible reduction in chronic conditions related to nutrition. However the theory practice gap can only be eliminated by the implementation of evidence such as this study into practice. To implement this study to practice the researcher will need to understand, identify and overcome barriers to change (NICE, 2007).

    Read More

  • Alzheimers Disease

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cummings, Jeffrey L., Cole, Greg. “Alzheimer Disease.” Journal of the American      Medical Association. May 2002: 287-18. Health Source. EBSCOhost. Utica      College Lib. 15 Apr 2005. .

    Read More

  • Vitamin D Has Many Functions in the Human Body

    1158 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vitamin D deficiency has been recognized as a highly prevalent condition worldwide and presented in approximately 30% to 50% of the general population [7]. High r...

    Read More

  • Reflection On Wellness Assessment

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    When it comes to supplements, I feel that there is a lot of misleading health benefits from actually taking them. As I learned from monitoring my own nutrient intake, our diet sometimes is lacking of important vitamins and minerals. There are so many supplements that promise curse and longevity by taking their pill, however, their claims have not been to my standards scientifically supported. In contrast, vaccines still have a negative stigma or attitude concerning side-effects which sway parents away from having their children receive these lifesaving vaccines. There is volumes of clinical research that supports the benefits of vaccines against deadly diseases and dispels most concerns over any serious

    Read More

  • Everything You Need to Know about Vitamins

    2022 Words  | 5 Pages

    A well-balanced diet contains all the necessary vitamins, and most individuals who follow such a diet can correct any previous vitamin deficiencies. However, persons who are on special diets, who are suffering from intestinal disorders that prevent normal absorption of nutrients, or who are pregnant or lactating may need particular vitamin supplements to bolster their metabolism. Beyond such real needs, vitamin supplements are also often popularly believed to offer "cures" for many diseases, from colds to cancer; but in fact the body quickly eliminates most of these preparations without absorbing them. In addition, the fat-soluble vitamins can block the effect of other vitamins and even cause severe poisoning when taken in excess.

    Read More

  • Vitamins, Nutrients, and Minerals

    387 Words  | 1 Pages

    When one hears the three words: vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, they think of one thing-being healthy and noticing what your intake is daily. Nutrition is all about vitamins and nutrients. Firstly, vitamins are an organic compound required by the body in small amounts of metabolism, to protect health, and for proper growth of children. Vitamins also assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous systems chemicals, and genetic material. There are 13 well-identified vitamins. Some examples of the 13 well-identified vitamins are: A, D, E, and K-fat contained foods, B, C-consumed immediately. A well known and commonly used in commercials for orange juice vitamin is vitamin C. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is important in the synthesis and maintenance of connective tissues. The lack of vitamin C will result in a sickness called scurvy. Scurvy harms the gums, mucous membranes, and the skin. Another well-known vitamin and is also used to commercial to give more information about this beverage is the vitamin in milk. The vitamin in milk is vitamin D. If you do not drink milk and obtain this vitamin, your bones and teeth will become soft and weak. Lacking one or more of the 13 well-identified vitamins will cause sickness and weakness to your body. Secondly, nutrients are how the body assimilates certain compounds. Nutrients are classified in 5 major groups: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. One of the five nutrients is carbohydrate. The carbohydrate group principally consists of sugar, starch, dextrin, cellulose, and glycogen. In more basic terms, carbohydrates are sugars needed by human and other living organisms. Some types of foods that contain carbohydrates would be candies, ice cream, fruit juice, soda, chocolate bars etc. Lastly, vitamins are connected to minerals. Minerals are also a very important part of a healthy person. There are 11 major groups of minerals. They are: calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc. All these terms look very familiar if one has taken chemistry. These are the elements of our world. One of the more common minerals that most people have heard of is calcium. Calcium also helps with the structure and strength of teeth and bones. Vitamins and minerals work together to help humans maintain a healthy body. For example, vitamin D works with calcium to help for and maintain the strength of teeth and bones.

    Read More

  • Nutrition and Cognitive Health

    1742 Words  | 4 Pages

    Kamphuis, P. H., & Scheltens, P. (2010). Can nutrients prevent or delay onset of alzheimer's disease?. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 20(3), 765-775. doi:10.3233/JAD-2010-091558

    Read More

  • Marketing Ethics: The Ethical Ethics Of Deceptive Advertising

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    (https://www.truthinadvertising.org/about/) Back in 2014, TINA.org approached consumers to participate in Coca-Cola’s preparatory settlement over deceptive labelling and advertising of its Glacéau Vitaminwater beverages. Glacéau vitaminwater beverages make unjustified health claims, such as it could promote healthy joints, lessen the risk of eye disease as well as to support immune functions. (http://www.businessinsider.sg/coca-cola-glacau-vitaminwater-misleading-advertising-lawsuit-2014-10/?r=US&IR=T#.VoZjCjZn9g1) The nutrition content of vitaminwater is mainly sugar-water with a small amount of synthetic vitamins.

    Read More

  • Vitamins Facts

    1407 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vitamins, a group of organic substances required in our diets in small amounts for growth and nutrition, are usually found in foodstuffs or taken as supplements. Yet vitamins probably present a wider gap between myth and reality in the layman's understanding than almost any other area of our diet. Surveys have found that while a majority of Americans do take vitamin supplements on a regular or occasional basis for reason of health concerns, there exists enormous confusion about the actual purpose and benefits of this practice ("Use of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in the United States," 1990:161). Most people have a recognition that Vitamin C prevents scurvy, that Vitamin A is found in fish-liver oils, or that Vitamin D is found in dairy products; many people believe that Vitamin E preserves youth and prevents sterility, or that Vitamin C can present colds and cancer. Beyond this, however, there is still considerable ignorance and widespread myth.

    Read More

  • The Benefits of Using Herbal and Natural Supplements

    634 Words  | 2 Pages

    Looking beautiful is something all people openly (or secretly) aim for. And for them to achieve this, good health should always come first.

    Read More

More about Vitamin Supplements: Hype or Help?

Open Document