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From: werner@aecom.YU.EDU (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: nutritional information
Message-ID: <1141@aecom.YU.EDU>
Date: Mon, 15-Jun-87 00:42:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: aecom.1141
Posted: Mon Jun 15 00:42:49 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Jun-87 05:39:50 EDT
References: <3736@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 35

In article <3736@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>, tpf@gitpyr.gatech.EDU (Tom Friedel) writes:
>    (4): What is the current concensus on 'multi-vitamins', and for what
>         vitamins is it OK to take over 100% USRDA (some go as high as
>         2000% USRDA).
>                                         Tom Friedel

	This topic gets hashed around sci.med every so often. But let
me say this: don't try asking for the current consensus on multi-vitamins,
because one doesn't exist.  On the net though, it seems everybody is
in favor of them.  I'm skeptical, leaning towards disbelief, and I've
been called some nasty names because of that.
	You probably won't do any harm with the water soluble
vitamins, although if you really overdo it, they all have some
adverse effects (I haven't heard anything about Thiamine toxicity,
but it's only a matter of time.  Pyridoxine (B6) toxicity was only
reported a few years ago.
	Vitamins A and D (which along with E and K are fat soluble)
can be toxic in high doses, particularly Vitamin A, with which large
doses are also associated with birth defects.

	A single multivitamin a day is not going to do any harm, and
may do some good.  But there is very little hard evidence to support
megavitaminosis, and a lot of circumstantial evidence to avoid it.
	And despite what people say, the RDA (Recommeded Daily
Allowance) is not the minimum daily requirement.  In several cases,
it is several times that.  It is a balance of what a person should
have to be safely assured of a non-deficiency state, with what can
be reasonably obtained by a balanced diet containing only food.
	Megadoses are more of a waste of money than a danger,
however. Still, some people swear by them.
-- 
			      Craig Werner (MD/PhD '91)
				!philabs!aecom!werner
              (1935-14E Eastchester Rd., Bronx NY 10461, 212-931-2517)
               "Why is it that half the calories is twice the price?"