Hard To Get Nutrients

BACKGROUND: Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies can cause a wide variety of health problems. Not enough vitamin D? You could be putting yourself at higher risk of osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis or certain kinds of cancer. Also, you may not be able to absorb all the calcium you need. Calcium helps strong bones grow, may help prevent colorectal cancer, and may also help with weight loss. A vitamin K deficiency can cause bleeding problems. Slow growth and vision problems can be a result of not enough vitamin A. Most of these vitamins can be obtained from a normal healthy diet. However, the changing food habits of Americans may leave some people lacking essential nutrients. One way to make sure you are getting the proper nutrients is to take supplements. But, how you take your supplements can determine whether or not you are getting all the benefits you need.

ABSORPTION PROBLEMS: If not taken correctly, some supplements will pass right through the body without being absorbed. For example, if you want to make sure you are getting enough calcium, absorption from supplements is best in doses 500 milligrams or less because the percent of calcium absorbed decreases as the amount of calcium in the supplement increases. Therefore, someone taking 1,000 milligrams of calcium in a supplement should take 500 milligrams twice a day, instead of 1,000 milligrams calcium at one time.

NUTRIENT SOURCES: Fortified foods are common sources of vitamin D. In the 1930s, rickets was a major public health problem in the United States. A milk fortification program was implemented to combat rickets, and it nearly eliminated this disorder in the United States. About 98 percent to 99 percent of the milk supply in the United States is fortified with 10 micrograms of vitamin D per quart. One cup of vitamin D fortified milk supplies one-half of the recommended daily intake for adults between the ages of 19 and 50, one-fourth of the recommended daily intake for adults between the ages of 51 and 70, and approximately 15 percent of the recommended daily intake for adults ages 71 and older.

Those who want to take supplements should also make sure they are getting the best form of the nutrient they need. Antioxidants, like vitamin E, protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which can damage cells and may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in eight different forms. Each form has its own biological activity, which is the measure of potency or functional use in the body. Alpha-tocopherol is the name of the most active form of vitamin E in humans. It is also a powerful biological antioxidant. Vitamin E in supplements is usually sold as alpha-tocopherol acetate -- a form that protects its ability to function as an antioxidant. The synthetic form is labeled "dl" while the natural form is labeled "d". The synthetic form is only half as active as the natural form. Vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals are common food sources of vitamin E.

For More Information, Contact:
Katherine Voss
Public Affairs, Marketing, and Planning
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
1221 S. Clearview Parkway, 2nd Floor
Jefferson, LA 70121
(504) 842-2225
kvoss@ochsner.org

For other medical research, visit Ivanhoe Broadcast News on the Internet: http://www.ivanhoe.com