Importance of Vitamins Reviewed

A review by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health concludes that most people would benefit from a multivitamin supplement. According to their findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine "Substantial data suggest that higher intakes of folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and vitamin D will benefit many people, and a multivitamin will ensure an adequate intake of other vitamins".

Vitamin supplementation is particularly recommended for women of child-bearing age, the elderly, anyone whose diet does not include a healthy balance of fruits and vegetables and anyone who drinks more than two alcoholic beverages a day.

Edith Maskell of Bromley Health Management commented, "Quite importantly, this study recognizes that the right diet on it's own is not always enough. At different stages in our lives, our bodies require different levels of vitamins and nutrients. Eating lots of fruit and vegetables may not be enough if the body isn't absorbing vitamins from the food as well as it should. Smoking, drinking, stress and all sorts of other lifestyle factors all make a difference as well".

"Vitamin and mineral levels are so important to overall health that, at Bromley Health Management, we will often include a vitamin and mineral screening in our treatment programmes".

Saturday, 2 February 2002