[brass monkey]

Are Vitamins Really That Good for You? : Wild Claims

[UNCfan1]

C Is for Colds
Even if a vitamin does no harm, it may do, well, nothing. Take the ever popular myth that popping vitamin C will stave off colds. A review of 30 studies involving more than 11,000 people who took at least 200 mg of vitamin C daily found that it offered little protection in reducing the length or severity of common colds for most people. It did work for some people, such as marathon runners and skiers, who undergo periods of high stress, but the study’s authors say the rest of us shouldn’t bother taking it.

That was the problem right there. I didn;t read the whole thing but that caught my eye.

[strategicmove]

Originally Posted by UNCfan1;

C Is for Colds
Even if a vitamin does no harm, it may do, well, nothing. Take the ever popular myth that popping vitamin C will stave off colds. A review of 30 studies involving more than 11,000 people who took at least 200 mg of vitamin C daily found that it offered little protection in reducing the length or severity of common colds for most people. It did work for some people, such as marathon runners and skiers, who undergo periods of high stress, but the study’s authors say the rest of us shouldn’t bother taking it.

That was the problem right there. I didn;t read the whole thing but that caught my eye.

In most cases, the problem is that Vitamin C is dramatically underdosed. If at least 2000mg were used instead of at least 200mg, the outcome would have been significantly different. Therapeutic doses of Vitamin C can start from 6000mg per day. There are even cases of practitioners administering their patients 30000mg or more daily for certain therapies. For daily maintenance purposes, though, one could take 1000mg to 3000mg daily. 200mg per day is like pissing in the ocean! Waste of time!

[strategicmove]

Originally Posted by brass monkey;

Are Vitamins Really That Good for You? : Wild Claims

I am not sure who sponsored that study. It would not be entirely responsible to seriously argue that multivitamins and minerals do not work. An argument like that would be hard to sustain. Besides, respected orthomolecular researchers have long advised against overdosing Vitamins A (Beta Carotene), E, Selenium, Folic Acid, Iron, Zinc, and Niacin. So that was no new insight!

[bioman]

200 mg of Vitamin C is like taking nothing.

Reader's Digest is to legitimate science reporting as Garfield comics are to the study of cat biology.

[Brian5225]

Yeah, I remember reading that article. And I thought about how we as bodybuilders run so many nutrients through our bodies, and break our bodies down so much every day that it would only make sense that we should get a higher dosage of vitamins per day to compensate. I've noticed a lot of articles like this one where they claim that something is not beneficial and a waste of time and yada yada yada. I've also learned to not believe everything in magazines because I remember in high school I read some article in ESPN about how terrible steroids are and they cause side effects in everyone and depression and theres no real responsible way to cycle and all this other stuff. Well, how many people are there that show that there are responsible ways to use these compounds? So even this should tip off an alarm in our heads saying "maybe they don't quite know what they're talking about". Sorry, kinda went on a rant there.

[terracotta]

Originally Posted by strategicmove

I am not sure who sponsored that study. It would not be entirely responsible to seriously argue that multivitamins and minerals do not work. An argument like that would be hard to sustain. Besides, respected orthomolecular researchers have long advised against overdosing Vitamins A (Beta Carotene), E, Selenium, Folic Acid, Iron, Zinc, and Niacin. So that was no new insight!

True except it is the Retinol form of vitamin A that causes problems. Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A when the body needs it. Excess will only result in an orange skin color.

[bioman]

And you REALLY have to work at it to overdose on vitamins. Like "ooops! I just swallowed 100 capsules of vitamin A for 10 days straight" kind of work.

[smeton_yea]

I used to take 2-3 grams of Vit C daily.(more with a cold) and Now i only take about 1,000 mgs including my multivitiman. I read from Vince Gironda that dose for a daily C and in the range of 1500 mgs Vit C removes excess water.

Thsat fdoesnt mean I wont dose high for a couple days than go back to my normal dose.

[bassgirl]

Originally Posted by terracotta

True except it is the Retinol form of vitamin A that causes problems. Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A when the body needs it. Excess will only result in an orange skin color.

Don't say that. I'm starting isotretinoin next week!:

[prld2gr8ns]

Originally Posted by bassgirl

Don't say that. I'm starting isotretinoin next week!:

If I remember correctly, Accutane contains a derivative of Retinoic Acid which would not make you turn a Garfieldesh color since it's not a photosynthetic pigment like beta carotene.

[bioman]

Nope, no orange color just stress to the liver, disruption of serum lipids and potential for massive depression. But hey, it works. lol

[abragers]

Funny thing about Readers Digest is that in 6 months they'll have an article like "Vitamin C - the new miracle vitamin".

[terracotta]

Yeah the retinoid form doesn't turn you orange. You turn orange from excess beta carotene. Didn't mean to scare you