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From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.med,net.consumers
Subject: Warning are sought on Vitamin Supplements
Message-ID: <2293@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Mar-86 18:51:04 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.2293
Posted: Mon Mar  3 18:51:04 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 4-Mar-86 04:19:29 EST
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Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
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Xref: linus net.med:3390 net.consumers:3994

<<>>
From American Medical News, (Feb. 28, 1986)
"Warnings are sought on vitamin supplements"

	A panel of leading scientists, concerned about the long-term
effects of using vitamin supplements for disease prevention, has called
on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate printed warnings on
packaging.
	Scientists representing the California Dietetic Assn, and the Dairy
Council of California said at a recent meeting tha they were concerned about
the increased usage of vitamin supplements by a growing number of consumers.
	"Vitamin pills do not effectively treat health concerns such as
cancer, osteoporosis, and premenstrual syndrome, despite a growing army
of believers," said David Heber, MD/PhD, chief of clinical nutrition at
UCLA medical school.
	The $3Billion supplement industry is growing at a rate of 15% a year,
with the number of pills actually sold increasing 8% annually.  Calcium
supplement sales last year increased 50% and are predicted to increase an
additional 33% this year.
	"The FDA should initiate consumer protection measures, including a
printed caution on all supplement labels and packaging, warning consumers
that vitamins and minerals won't prevent disease and that the long term
consequences of long-term frequent use are unknown," Dr. Heber said.
	Vitamin and mineral supplements become drugs when taken at 10 times
the recommended dietary allowance.
	Such use can upset nutrient absorbtion rates, causing nutritional
deficiencies and serious health problems," he said.

-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
               "Time flies when you're streaking out N. gonorrheae."