Vitamins 'could shorten lifespan'

[Heracles 417]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6399773.stm

You cannot win with this stuff..

It makes my head want to explode. One day you are told abc is great for you, the next year you are told abc is bad..

The bible does say have no faith in man, you better believe it..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6399773.stm

You cannot win with this stuff..

It makes my head want to explode. One day you are told abc is great for you, the next year you are told abc is bad..

The bible does say have no faith in man, you better believe it..

I've noticed several reports lately similar - one said that garlic doesn't lower cholesterol.

This news report is a bit misleading in even delivering the results. Even within the article it states...

This overview suggested that taking antioxidant supplements neither increased, nor reduced, the risk of early death.

However, when the researchers eliminated a further 21 trials which had a slightly higher possibility of producing a skewed result, the picture changed considerably.

While the risk of death was unchanged among selenium and vitamin C users, a statistically significant increase in risk emerged for the other three supplements.

Beta-carotene produced an approximate 7% increased risk, vitamin E a 4% increase and vitamin A, a 16% increase.

...

I think a more concise report would delve into how these supplements work with our bodies on the molecular level. Nutritional supplements should be just that...a supplement to your diet, not a replacement. In other words, you can't eat Big Macs and pop some vitamins that magically cancel out the Big Mac.

Edited February 28, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Niels Bohr 72]

When did news article become an educational tool to teach medicine? The news reporter has no knowledge what a gene is composed of, or even what is the molecular make up of a DNA. Un-reliable! It makes those people who lack the knowledge believe them.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

When did news article become an educational tool to teach medicine? The news reporter has no knowledge what a gene is composed of, or even what is the molecular make up of a DNA. Un-reliable! It makes those people who lack the knowledge believe them.

It seems to be a trend these days with news reporting science. It's interesting how they'll take a report and then report on that report which of course has their own spin on it. I think it comes down to the newspapers wanting to increase readership. They'll find controversy in everything because it sells.

[MPGGPM 0]

Well...I'm a goner then, since I buy and have been popping vitamin supplements for years. I hit GNC once a month and buy those "packs" of vitamins, where you get like 6-7 different types of pills day.

Been doing it for years too......

I guess I should be prepared to keel over any day now. Great.

You know, next thing we'll be reading about, ......is how eating hots dogs, drinking loads of beer, and finishing it all off with some Ben and Jerry's was really the key to a long and fruitful life after all. And everyone had it all wrong.

Well, seeing as I only have a short time to go before I kick the bucket, I better start partying and living it up! Whoohoo!

[Robor007 0]

I think a more concise report would delve into how these supplements work with our bodies on the molecular level. Nutritional supplements should be just that...a supplement to your diet, not a replacement. In other words, you can't eat Big Macs and pop some vitamins that magically cancel out the Big Mac.

I don't think people look for supplements to cancel out things like a Big Mac. I take a multi-vitamin (Vitamin World's Green Source iron Free) and I do so because my diet sucks. By that I don't mean I eat a bunch of McDonalds or other fast food. It's just that I *hate* most veggies that are good for you so I look to a quality multi-vitamin to supplement my diet's lack of veggies. I also take a 500mg of vitamin C and a fish oil capsule (tastes nasty).

[Niels Bohr 72]

It's good to have vitamins. First off, when a cell divides during Mitosis lots of stuff may happen. The DNA may mutate at the point. Our cells has a mechanism to fix DNA that has been corrupted. Vitamins helps this process. However, if accumulation of 'free radicals,' molecules that tends to bond to organic molecules are in high concentration it may override the DNA repair mechanism mainly destroying the p54 gene that cases cell apoptosis (Cell Death) that can lead to detrimental result. So, with this in mind it would take considerable analysis to prove that vitamins supplement may reduce a human lifespan.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think a more concise report would delve into how these supplements work with our bodies on the molecular level. Nutritional supplements should be just that...a supplement to your diet, not a replacement. In other words, you can't eat Big Macs and pop some vitamins that magically cancel out the Big Mac.

I don't think people look for supplements to cancel out things like a Big Mac. I take a multi-vitamin (Vitamin World's Green Source iron Free) and I do so because my diet sucks. By that I don't mean I eat a bunch of McDonalds or other fast food. It's just that I *hate* most veggies that are good for you so I look to a quality multi-vitamin to supplement my diet's lack of veggies. I also take a 500mg of vitamin C and a fish oil capsule (tastes nasty).

There was a recent study on taste buds that found people who cannot stand the taste of vegetables had highly sensitive taste buds. When I was growing up, I had a real sweet tooth, but my taste for food has changed - I enjoy eating vegetables a lot more. Might be worth looking into.

Yeah, the fish oil is nasty - I'll burp up the taste throughout the day...yuk. Trader Joe's sells one that supposedly the flavor has been neutralized.

Edited February 28, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Heracles 417]

When did news article become an educational tool to teach medicine? The news reporter has no knowledge what a gene is composed of, or even what is the molecular make up of a DNA. Un-reliable! It makes those people who lack the knowledge believe them.

The data came from the "University of Copenhagen research team", not the reporter.. Various friends of mine as well as a number of my cousins, all with PhD's, working for the world's top pharmaceutical companies have always unanimously told me that there are very few, if any, supplements or medications out there without any side effects..

[Heracles 417]

In hindsight, Wine Drinkers May Live Longer

Men Who Drank Half Glass Daily Extended Lives 4 Years in Dutch Study

Edited February 28, 2007 by Infidel

[Niels Bohr 72]

There are always side affects with any type of foreign entity that enters the body. There's always the possibility that an allergic reaction to certain properties of the molecular interactions between the protein, and the chemical itself. However, reading the article it doesn't give links to references to be verified. It says various past papers have indicated a high chance of early death. Doesn't specifically give conclusive supporting evidence. This is purely speculative evidence with no concrete data to support it. I understand that the paper appears from the University of Copenhagen; however, whoever interpreted the paper must also be considered whether that person is legit or someone who minored in Medicin in College.

Edited February 28, 2007 by consolemaster

[one...two...tree 2,762]

There are always side affects with any type of foreign entity that enters the body. There's always the possibility that an allergic reaction to certain properties of the molecular interactions between the protein, and the chemical itself. However, reading the article it doesn't give links to references to be verified. It says various past papers have indicated a high chance of early death. Doesn't specifically give conclusive supporting evidence. This is purely speculative evidence with no concrete data to support it. I understand that the paper appears from the University of Copenhagen; however, whoever interpreted the paper must also be considered whether that person is legit or someone who minored in Medicin in College.

[bucknekkid 0]

I don't care what you eat or drink...When it's your time, then it's your time....

Enjoy the things you love because you only have one life to do it in...

[Heracles 417]

Here is a better article with more information...

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/132/1...?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The finding, reported in The Journal of the American Medical Association, comes from Goran Bjelakovic, MD, DrMedSci, of the University of Nis in Serbia; Christian Gluud, MD, DrMedSci, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark; and colleagues.

.....

So the researchers looked only at the 47 "low-bias-risk" studies -- which included nearly 181,000 participants and which did not include people taking selenium. They found that:

* Taking vitamin A supplements increased the risk of death by 16%.

* Taking beta-carotene supplements increased the risk of death by 7%.

* Taking vitamin E supplements increased the risk of death by 4%.

* Taking vitamin C supplements did not have any effect on risk of death.

Edited March 1, 2007 by Infidel

[William33 110]

I cannot believe that this research is comprehensive and analytically researched.

Our bodies require vitamins and minerals to function properly. Providing that you eat a healthy diet and don't overdose on vitamins, it must be beneficial.

Those that eat ####### everyday and try to "fix it" with vitamins, would appear to be more at risk.

I will continue to eat well and supplement with a multivitamin. F the above report.