Foods and Fads
Here's a little about Columbus' friend, Ponce de Leon:
Distinguished in the wars with the Moors, and a companion of Columbus in his
second voyage, Juan Ponce was regarded with reverence by many, for his locks
were white with age, and he had a noble Castilian lineage. He was then an old
man animated with the ambitions of youth; and he was still seeking renown and
wealth. The enjoyment of life had ever been an exquisite pleasure to him, and
his desire to prolong his earthly existence in vigor was intense. That desire
made him readily believe the marvelous tales told by some of the natives, of
crystal waters flowing from living springs among the Bahama Islands, or on the
coast of a beautiful country near them, in which he who bathed would be instantly
endowed with immortal youth and great beauty. So, he went from island to island
tasting of and bathing in every stream and lake that met his vision. Finally,
disappointed but not disheartened, he extended his researches in a northwesterly
direction. A few days afterwards, west winds brought the delicious perfumes
of flowers. The heart of the old cavalier leaped with joy and hope. But,...
he sailed from Puerto Rico in 1521, and landed on the shores of Florida, not
far from where he had first discovered that land, to prepare for founding a
colony there. He was met by a crowd of natives who had gathered near the beach
with bows and arrows and long javelins, to defend their land from the intrusion
of the pale faces, for they had lately been taught, by the bitter experience
of their neighbors, to look upon them as children of the Evil Spirit. A sharp
battle ensued. Several of the Spaniards were killed, and Ponce de Leon, badly
wounded in his thigh, was carried on board his ship and conveyed to Cuba, where
he died.
[from http://www.publicbookshelf.org/public_html/Our_Country_Vol_1/whowaspo_bf.html]
To bad old Ponce the Lion did go on the internet: Feel 21. Where he could have found what he was looking for without the risk of getting javelined.
"Health foods" and "food supplements," including vitamins,
do not come under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. They are not "food
additives" and they are not "drugs." So, consider
Extra Strength Hair Formula Price: $11.77 Amt. : 90 tablets which has an Amount
per serving - % DV :
Niacin 70 mg 350% ; Folic Acid 800 mcg 200% ; Vitamin B-12 12 mcg 200% ; Biotin
200 mcg 66% ; Pantothenic Acid; (di-calcium pantothenate) 200 mg 2000% ; Iron
(Gluconate) 4 mg 22% ; Iodine (Kelp) 300 mcg 200% ; Zinc (Gluconate) 30 mg 200%
; Manganese (Gluconate) 10 mg 500% ; Choline Bitartrate 1000 mg * ; Inositol
250 mg * ; Inositol 250 mg * ; PABA
(Para Amino Benzoic Acid) 60 mg *
If a manufacturer ground that up and placed it in eggnog to increase flavor
or reduce spoiling, it would have to be tested for toxicity as a food additive.
If the label on the box said, "cures hangnail," it would have to be
approved as a drug. As long as it is not marketed as a "cure" for
a "disease," the marketers are free to do what they want. The FDA
has tried to correct this, but failed to persuade congress to change the law
and failed in court to expand their authority over health foods and vitamins,
with the exception of those "intended for children under 12 or pregnant
or lactating women." This was slightly modified in 1994, if you want to
read some more details. Dietary
Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.
Vitamins
There are about 40 or so essential nutrients (either chemicals or classes of chemicals) for humans. Vitamins are nutrients that are not fuel (carbo's, fats, proteins) , essential amino acids (proteins), essential unsaturated d fatty acids (fats), or minerals (including trace minerals). The water soluble vitamins are C and the B series. The fat soluble vitamins are A, E, and K. Most, including the B series, are unrelated chemically. The water soluble vitamins are not stored in the tissues, while the fat soluble are stored quite well. Are they important?
Most vitamins were discovered (isolated) in connection with animal studies for treatment of human disease. Pellagra, rickets, beriberi, etc. Some diseases were known in the 19th century to be caused by dietary deficiencies, and in the later 19th and early 20th century the particular chemicals that were lacking were identified. The vitamins are very effective drugs for those deficiency diseases. The FDA publishes a list, the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) of vitamins and the other nutrients. The RDA's are set to the upper limit of the doses to prevent those diseases. Most people would not get those disease at an intake lower than the RDA, but the incidence of the disease would increase. But, is more better? If lack of vitamin C causes scurvy, a loss of collagen that hold joints together, will an excess of vitamin C improve my collagen and make my joints better? Who am I to argue with a multi-billion dollar industry? On the other hand, it is certain that excesses of certain vitamins, especially the fat soluble vitamins A and D leads to disease. Hypervitaminosis A or hypervitaminosis D.
Marketing pressures lead to super exposition of any alleged benefit of such unregulated substances. "But they may be helpful! you say." Yes, but so may ground up tungsten. It hasn't been tested, nor have the supplements, to any degree, and no one has an incentive to test them. When there is an incentive, for example, there is some evidence that vitamin E and selenium decrease the incidence of prostate cancer, the National Institute of Health (NIH) will let grants to investigate the alleged therapeutic effect. These tests take years and often their results are equivocal. If these tests show the slightest promise, the results will be advertised. If the tests do not show a benefit, the results will be known to only readers of scientific literature.
Quackwatch is a neat site that debunks pretty much everything that is not of profit to orthodox medical doctors, although I agree with most of it. Here is a missive on proteins and supplements for weightlifters http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ergo.html from that site.
So it is for all the other food supplements, aroma therapy, and baldness cures. They have not been tested in a scientific way for efficacy, nor have they been tested for toxicity. But, my personal point of view was expressed well by Dr. Sheehan, a cardiologist and an early medical adviser to Runner's World Magazine (1970's), who evolved into a philosopher and writer (1980's). In paraphrase: There's no scientific evidence that vitamins and supplements do anything for the runner except give him expensive urine.... I take 1000 mg of vitamin C every day.