X October 2004 – With the days getting shorter and the first warnings of “ground freeze”, it may occur to you to shield yourself against the ailments of the cold season by opting for vitamin or mineral supplements.
If so, you are like 42% of Canadians who believe that such supplements should be taken primarily during the winter.
Unless you are one of those (64%) who think vitamins are unnecessary when eating a healthy diet.
This is what emerges from a recent survey conducted by the pharmaceutical company Wyeth Consumer Healthcare – which markets certain brands of vitamins and minerals – aimed at measuring the perception of Canadians towards this type of supplement.
Among the other results that emerge from this probe, 83% of the 1,262 respondents believe that vitamins and minerals help to be in better health and only 46% believe that they should be consumed daily to supplement a healthy diet and to derive a benefit from it. profit.
The survey also shed light on other beliefs that Canadians hold about these supplements:
- 63% believe that taking specific vitamins or minerals is more beneficial than taking a multivitamin;
- 57% believe that vitamins should be used to improve only one aspect of health;
- 41% say they should be taken when a cold or flu starts to be felt;
- 39% think they need to be taken long term to prevent illness.
What the experts recommend
Asked about the subject, pharmacist Jean-Yves Dionne indicated that due to the number of nutrients it contains, the multivitamin is more beneficial for the body than a specific vitamin or mineral, except in rare cases. occasions – like taking iron to cure anemia, for example.
Mr. Dionne recalls that in the food pyramid created by the Dr Walter Willet, director of the nutrition department at Harvard University’s School of Public Health, it is recommended that you take a multivitamin every day.
At the same time, more and more scientific studies indicate that, in adults, the daily intake of a multivitamin – over several years – would reduce by 30% to 40% the risk of being affected by a chronic or social disease. ”, Such as cardiovascular disorders and many cancers.
Which multivitamin to choose?
If you go with a popular brand, Jean-Yves Dionne advises making sure the product contains at least 400 micrograms (or 0.4 mg) of vitamin B9 (folic acid). This acid helps prevent cardiovascular disease, colon cancer as well as the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus.
As for high-end multivitamins, they are found in stores specializing in natural products, where competent staff can direct the customer to a product more suited to his lifestyle.
Last important point: vitamins and minerals do not have the function of canceling the harmful effects linked to a dietary deficiency. “Food contains more than 80,000 active substances and it is not a multivitamin that contains only 39 that will change much”, concludes Jean-Yves Dionne. Increasing the dose would not be a good idea: at best, the excess would not be absorbed; at worst, it could cause some unwanted effects.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
Source: http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/September2004/15/c9706.html [Site de Canadian Newswire (CNW), consulté le 30 septembre 2004]
