In message <[email hidden]>, Paul
Aspinall <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:Hi,
Does anyone have the RDA values for the various vitamins / minerals??
I believe the values are different for EU, US and UK??
Thanks
Paul
Http://www.ivillage.co.uk/health/ghealth/vitamin/articles/0,,584525_58472
4,00.html
Be aware that research is indicating that many of the RDA values (in UK
at least) are *over* estimates and that taking too much can actually be
worse than too little.
Vitamins of particular concern are vitamin A (linked to liver disease
and blindness), vitamin B6 (which has been linked to periferal nerve
damage), vitamin D, vitamin E and even vitamin C (mega-doses can
decrease the pH of the blood and lead to all sorts of problems).
If you are over 60 the current advice is not to supplement with vitamin
A at all (including beta-carotene sources) and not to have liver or
liver products more than once a week.
Minerals are even more problematic with iron causing constipation and
blocking calcium absorption, and calcium increasing the risk of kidney
stones as well as blocking the absorption of iron!
In some northerly countries, dark skinned people are recommended to
supplement with a small amount of vitamin D (there should be government
advice in countries affected, such as Northern Canada, Asian people in
the North of Scotland and the islands etc).
Folic acid supplementation is recommended for women of childbearing age
who may possibly conceive, and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, as
this has been shown to reduce the incidence of spina bifida.
A regular, one-a-day multivitamin and mineral supplement is probably a
wise precaution against deficiencies when losing weight and probably
harmless, but mostly I'd strongly encourage people to try to get their
vitamins and minerals from actual food, and to eat a good variety of
foods to ensure they get the correct mix.
However, if you have an actual deficiency, be guided by your doctor of
course, on dosage and supplementation.
HTH
--
Anna (in UK)
Start Weight: 174 lbs
Goal Weight: 146 lbs
Current Weight: 163 lbs
"The revolutionary new diet pill that turns body fat into Rolex watches" -
Dilbert Online