The Great Multivitamin (MVI) Debate
Author’s Note: This offering has been inspired both by an article I wrote in 2005 as well as a bb.com thread that had recently incited some interest. For those curious the full thread can be found here for context purposes:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=1593971&highlight=dinoiii
Otherwise, I have placed my individual comments and some questions that go with them below.
So, as I was reading this thread…I was really itching to provide comment. I actually do represent ONE MD’s view:
ALL MULTIVITAMINS (MVIs) SUCK!!!
Now, before everyone thinks I have jumped on the Des bandwagon (sorry man, no offense…I like a lot of the posts you present) or that I am supporting the quoted doctor of the initial post - this is VERY untrue. My rationale comes from a different light COMPLETLEY!
I think that no formulation has proven worth and if anyone had to take a formulation that was worthwhile, compliance would literally fall through the floor.
I am going to quote a piece I did from some time ago to display (on the mineral side of the coin) how worthless some of the formulations are:
From 2005 article I wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by dinoiii
Together with the 13 vitamins found in nature, at least 22 minerals are needed by your body to make things happen. You should further subdivide these categories into Major and Trace minerals when considering how much you should take. (Note: Trace is neither synonymous nor homologous with less important!)
Deficiencies have been found in the following minerals while on ketogenic diets and I find it imperative to supplement them in preparation for potential problem. Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, and Zinc. Now, as an aside, iron ? if incorporating meat product into the plan ? you may not expect to be a problem in the deficiency realm, however, megadosing here on the other hand can be an issue in the realm of CREATING deficiency. Taking too much of one mineral can affect your elimination of, or make it hard (maybe even impossible) for your body to use, one or more of the other minerals.
So, which minerals contribute to the problems? All of them can!
* If you get too much calcium, your body may not be able to absorb or use magnesium, iron, or zinc. (Wait a minute, perhaps, another reason people should STILL take a ZMA supp at a time other than that which they ingest calcium)
* If you get too much copper, your body too may not be able to absorb or use zinc.
* If you get too much iron, your body may not be able to absorb or use phosphorus OR zinc.
* If you get too much manganese, your body may not be able to absorb or use iron. (this is despite adequate meat intake).
* If you get too much molybedenum, your body may not be able to absorb or use zinc OR copper.
* If you get too much phosphorus, your body may not be able to absorb or use calcium.
* If you get too much sulfur (protein), your boy may not be able to absorb or use molybedenum.
* If you get too much zinc, your body may not be able to absorb or use copper.
And these aren?t the only cascades multiple vitamin/mineral supps don?t take into consideration, and for it I have no recommendations at this time on how to correct all of them, because it WILL vary DEPENDENT UPON which diet you are partaking in. Suggestions I will make are more dependent upon which minerals ?double? as ?electrolytes.?
Yes, you need them - do any companies invest the appropriate time into development - not in this lifetime…they attempt to offer up a “MORE IS BETTER TO BEAT THE NEXT ONE” mentality and this is rather silly.
Again - ONLY one physician’s view…but let’s understand this one went a bit beyond the ole medical education, which I do CONCUR with the aforementioned posts as they state it is rather deficient…it is actually NON-EXISTENT…though some claim the little wonders of tidbits on deficiencies and toxicities in bichemistry and pathology amount to what should be learned when they preach you need to see a physician before taking any new supplement or start a new weight training/diet program. Have you seen many physicians in shape?