Harvard Health Publication Slams Vitamins.

... as I said on the last thing that Tom posted about this topic related to the reports of a study that showed little outcome from vitamin and mineral supplementation.  I'd really appreciate Tom (or someone) finding out the key piece to this, in my mind, which is 'what supplements did they use?' because what I have put a ton of effort into related to Lumigrate's education about the supplemetation of nutrition has to do with the QUALITY.  We have listed the book by Lyle Macwilliams, for instance.  (on the products that go with the Supplements and Disease Prevention video, and that's naturally then discussed IN the video.)

So again, this is a good example in my mind of how something might appear to be really 'valid' because it's been reported on in a newsletter or magazine that is affiliated with a very top level establishment, but if they're overlooking a key such as QUALITY of the vitamin/mineral supplement used by people then it's going to net a result that might even show people end up sicker.  (Take for instance calcium made from shells that come from waters with heavy metals for instance.) 

If I wanted to study what the average person taking supplements gets from taking them, that's one thing.  If I wanted to study what happens if people take high quality vitamin/minerals then that's another thing.  So which one was this study, I ask you.  ~~ Mardy

First of all, I am put off by the unprofessional extra large red lettering that Tom used in this forum.  Definitely not applicable for a scientific discussion.   The field of science is always bringing forth "evidence" that is frequently countered by other scientists at different times.  That is the nature of research. (with the emphasis on the re)  It takes someone with the ability to see the broad picture from an enormous body of scientific research to decipher the results.  Frequently, the original research is flawed in a manner ones closest to it cannot see.  That is why peer-reviewed literature is crucial.  Then, again, beta-analysis is not always perfect, either.   

Take, for example, the following article written by Stephen Daniells of Nutra-Ingredients USA :

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Industry/Newsweek-slams-antioxidants-Yawn/?c=UcUzfLwHlg7uHgr57CrhlA%3D%3D&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily [8]

Tom, you should respect Stephen Daniells, because he has been a long-time advocate of antioxidants- INCLUDING JUICE PLUS.   In this article, Stephen points out the inconsistancies of a beta-analysis that slams the use of vitamins and antioxidants.  

Go ahead and read the entire article at the link provided.  I will copy and paste a few of the statements given for a preview:

"On January 25, Newsweek published an article entitled “Antioxidants [9] Fall From Grace: The popular dietary components may not do any good, and may actually harm”. The article treads the same old path of ‘antioxidant supplements do not work, and one big meta-analysis [10] indicated they may increase your risk of mortality’. "

"...No! It is not clear that antioxidant supplements are in any way ‘dangerous’: What is clear, however, is that there is no mention of the 748 trials that were excluded from the meta-analysis that the Newsweek article hinges on, including 405 trials that showed no mortality in the study groups. After all, you can't measure antioxidants in relation to death if you have no deaths to compare it to.

There is also no mention of the recent revisit [11] of this data by scientists led by Prof Hans Biesalski from the University of Hohenheim, which found that 36 percent of the trials showed a positive outcome or that the antioxidant supplements were beneficial, 60 percent had a null outcome, while only four percent found negative outcome (Nutrients, 2010, 2(9), 929-949). "

"...Such comments have been echoed by academia and industry: Tufts University’s Prof Jeff Blumberg told NutraIngredients-USA.com: "Regrettably, this piece does not provide a balanced viewpoint of the state-of-the-science of dietary antioxidants and attempts to frighten readers with brief descriptions of a few in vitro experiments, studies in mice and rats, and reliance on controversial meta-analyses."

And this echoed comments from Douglas MacKay, N.D, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), who added: “The article provided an incomplete picture of the existing scientific evidence supporting the benefits of antioxidants, instead relying exclusively on findings from only negative or null studies, and meta-analyses that many scientists have already criticized.”

Balance is key- Tom you are right about that.  Whenever a person takes megadoses of a single vitamin such as vit E ,  or beta-caratene on it's own, they are throwing off the balance of nutrients.  That is why I do not recommend purchasing individual vitamins or minerals unless a specific need is found ( as determined by testing such as 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in blood) Balance is not only found in a dehydrated juice product. but is also available in a high quality vitamin/mineral supplement such as USANA Essentials.
 

With vitamin/mineral supplement one needs to look for that balance, or synergy,  the quality of the manufacturing, and the potency and purity.   Very few meet those standards, but they CAN be met.  You can see more at my previous post Evaluating Your Multivitamin Supplement [12]here in Lumigrate. 

The question is, although Juice Plus is one way to add antioxidants to your diet, and I agree on the value of antioxidants, does Juice Plus have a product that provides that complete synergy needed? 

Be Well,

Robin

 Juice PLUS meets the highest standards of manufacturing. They meet the FDA standards (thats not given how much they are overstretched) and the FDA certified Juice PLUS as food. Juice PLUS does not have a vitamin label and that is a big deal. In most states if not all where food is not taxed, Juice PLUS is not taxed. Juice PLUS also meets the Swiss standards as well as the Austrian Pharmaceutical standards. Does anyone know of any vitamin meeting those three standards?

Quality of the product: Juice PLUS has 17 studies that are published in Peer Reviewed magazines. The product is also NSF certified which means it passes all of the sports authorities around the world.

Why do so many people keep taking Juice PLUS. Because their body or their blood work tells them it is good for them.

Here is the link to the research summery.  https://www.juiceplusvirtualoffice.com/uploads/2011/1/PDFs/USM0007285/userFlyer.pdf

Thank you, Robin, for your very helpful and informative response, and Tom for his final comment on it.  This certainly shows the different aspects people come from and is a good example of how to have a difference of opinion and state it professionally.  This on it's own already is a really robust piece I think, and I'm hoping some of our other nutritionistas will find their way to Commenting as well.  Many hands, light work.  ~~ Mardy

Dear Tom,

You are always saying the same thing, touting what is fed to you by JP.  This is a forum for discussion, not a tit for tat argument about what is better.  I have already said that JP is a good product, with some reservations.  I would use it myself if I needed an antioxidant "boost".   You are proud of the fact it is labeled a food.  But it doesn't replace real, organic, whole foods like an entire apple, or fresh berries, or whole grains.

I do understand that research has been done on JP products.  I never said it wasn't!  But even with the benefits of additional phytonutrients in JP are beneficial, they do not prove that "whole food" supplements are optimal. (In fact, it is not likely to be optimal because it lacks vitamin B12 and most of the minerals included in full-spectrum multivitamin/multimineral pills.) Nor is there any logical reason to conclude that these products are "balanced" simply because its ingredients were extracted from foods. But that's not all. Much of the protective effect of fruits and vegetables is due to their fiber content. Most whole food supplements have nearly all the fiber removed. Moreover, eating the recommended portions of grains, fruits, and vegetables does not merely provide high levels of phytochemicals. It usually means that the overall diet is low or moderate in fat. Nobody knows whether adding a whole food supplement to a high-fat or low-fiber diet would provide much benefit. The bottom line is that if someone's diet is low in fruits, vegetables, or grains, the most prudent action is fix the diet.

Anyone who supplements their diet with either JP or a high quality vitamin/mineral supplement needs to take a long look at their diet, too.  I never claimed that our supplements are a replacement for a healthy diet. But I do assert that even the healthiest of diets is unlikely to provide us with therapeutic amounts of nutritionals.

I do know of vitamins that meet and exceed the standards you indicate.  Do you really want me to list the third party certifications of the USANA Essentials? 

Check out the following link:

http://www.usana.com/dotCom/difference/manufacturing [21]

USANA products are compliant with FDA Nutriceutical regulations, going above and beyond Food Grade GMPs  to voluntary Pharmaceutical Grade GMPs

Compliant with Australia's TGA regulations

Compliant with China's sFDA regulations  Products sold in China are manufactured in China- ALL other products are manufactured in USA- BY USANA in their own state of the art manufacturing facility.

ALL raw materials undergo a rigid laboratory testing of verification, purity, potency, traceability of every ingredient.  Further testing of each and every batch after formulation.  There has NEVER been a recall of ANY USANA product.

Compared to 1,500 other supplements, USANA® Nutritionals were named the best of the best by The Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements, earning the NutriSearch Gold Medal of Achievement™ and being selected as Editor’s Choice.  http://comparativeguide.com [22]

NSF certified: 

Good Manufacturing Practices Certificate [23]

Contents Tested and Certified Certificate [24]

Certified for Sport Product Listing [25]

A number of USANA supplements have been evaluated and approved by ConsumerLab.com,
a leading provider of independent test results and information.

http://consumerlab.com [26]

In the "land of nutritional companies" USANA has won numerous Utah Best of State awards for Best Dietary
Supplements, Best Health and Nutrition Products, Best Personal-Care
Products, and Best Health and Nutrition Beverage.

Each product carries a Potency Guarantee promising that what is on the label is actually in the product. And nothing else!  USANA has a million dollar guarantee for athletes [27]that no athlete taking USANA products will be found positive for any banned substances. 

USANA is a member of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA)—an association of dietary supplement and functional food companies that share a commitment to provide consumers with natural health products of superior quality, benefit, and reliability.

Products meet trusted USP standards and specifications, which means they will break down in the body and do not contain undeclared ingredients or harmful contaminants.

The International Olympic Committee has approved USANA products for all athletes participating in the games, Here is list of a few of the athletes who trust USANA  [28].

The Women's Tennis Association has approved the use of USANA by their athletes. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-08/women-s-tennis-tour-wta-extends-sponsorship-with-usana-through-2013.html [29]

AND we also have the research.  Not only are the USANA products backed by years of large published studies in the medical and nutritional literature that have given us the knowledge and insight into nutritional elements, but USANA has over 28 studies published by research partnerships as well as extensive inhouse studies.

http://www.usana.com/dotCom/difference/partner [30]

Yes, scientific research is important, as well as quality manufacturing.  USANA is a company of integrity. 

Be Well,

Robin

Good response (again) Robin, thank you.  There is much to learn here on and between the lines. 

I wanted to provide the link to the place on Lumigrate related to our Supplements and Disease Prevention video which also cites The Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements.  (scroll ALL the way to the bottom once you go to the link anyone choses to go see it (or then order it from Amazon.com). 

www.lumigrate.com/page/products [32]

Again, in this overwhelming sea of solutions related to health care, one of my philosophies is when I keep hearing the same thing from multiple sources it might be one of the safer things to focus on, and the Guide is what our initial expert related to supplements had incorporated into the seminar about supplements.  My two little cents!  ~~ Mardy

 It is well known in scientific and lay circles that a vitamin is a phytonutrient. There are 40 vitamins that can be manufactured and and compressed into supplements. 95% are manufactured in China. These 40 vitamins are "the low hanging fruit" as the saying goes that scientists discovered before they realized the scope and depth of phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables. Vitamin D is not a vitamin it is a hormone.

We currently know there are at least 100,000+ phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables. The question is "Am I doing my client a favor by recommending a supplement that has only some of the 40 vitamins"? Am I not more helpful in recommending Juice PLUS? A capsule that has the 100,000+ phytonutrients and is backed by primary Gold Standard science? 

Am I not being more helpful in treating the entire body than just an aspect of the body?

People don't have a vitamin shortage. They have a whole food shortage.

An isolated vitamin might treat a single malady or two but neither the prescriber nor the person knows how much they actually need of that vitamin. Getting your phytonutrients from whole foods is a far superior solution. Juice PLUS offers a balanced treatment the way mother nature intended for our bodies. And as the research shows Juice PLUS delivers the goods. 

Integrity is very important to sufferers of CFS/FM. Juice PLUS is a far better solution and it is loaded with integrity. We owe them our best solutions.

Minor detail but I like to always clarify this:  Lumigrate is about integrative medicine concepts with a core market related to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and related issues because there are a LOT of people with those diagnoses who are motivated to find solutions.  But what is good for them in particular is important information for anyone.  Those with these challenging issues might need to approach their wellness more aggressively than the average person seeking their highest wellness, but much of the information is related to all. 

And naturally we're hoping Lumigrate is used as an educational agent from consumers to providers (then that educated provider will hopefully progress with their information and treat all their patients with the concepts they've learned and LOTS of new and good came from this one consumer who finds Lumigrate.  Just didn't want to perpetuate if someone thought Tom was saying Lumigrate is all about fibromyalgia, it's really about educating everyone who wants to thing progressively -- from people with severe cases of FMS to providers and everyone in between who simple want the progressive concepts.  Thanks all who make that happen! ~~ Mardy

Hi Tom,

I'm not sure you even read what I have said.  You keep repeating the same comments which may be confusing some people. 

There are differences between some phytonutrients and some vitamins.  I found information for the layman that explains the difference here:

http://www.encognitive.com/node/7251 [36]  and

http://www.webmd.com/diet/phytonutrients-faq [37]

[By the way, I do realize that vit D is also a hormone, but even physicians and nutritional scientists continue to call it vitamin D.   For others who are interested, this website explains this chemical's synthesis and function.    http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind/ [38]  ]

YES, phytonutrients are plant-based.  YES, Juice Plus is plant-based ( processed to a capsule).  Guess what- USANA Essentials include phytonutrients- plant based (processed to a tablet)

I totally agree with you that getting our phytonutrients from whole foods is a far superior solution.  Where we disagree is in what is whole food.  I declare that whole foods are grown locally, purchase intact, and eaten raw or cooked immediately before eating.  I already agreed that JP has some valid antioxidants.  It is not missing phytonutrients- it is missing a number of important nutrients and minerals that can be difficult to obtain through our Standard American Diet: such as the B vitamins, zinc, and selenium.   

You stated that above that "it is well known by scientific and lay circles that a vitamin is a phytonutrient"  You talk about 40 vitamins and 100,000 plus phytonutrients.  You also stated that "People don't have a vitamin shortage, they have a whole food shortage. "  So, if that is true, why do people need JP, with their phytonutrient/vitamins?   Your logic is not quite right.  But I'm happy to let you believe what you want to believe.  

Oh, by the way, the scientific community doesn't use the terminology "Gold Standard Science"  That is a nice marketing term, though.  

USANA Essentials and Juice Plus are quite different products.  I am not saying which one is better.  I prefer to give concrete information and let the consumer make their own decision.  Here are the ingredients of the USANA Essentials:  all 100% purity and potency tested

Supplement Facts for the Mega-Antioxidant
Serving Size: 2 Tablets
Amount per serving %DV*
Vitamin A (as beta carotene) 7,500 IU 150%
Vitamin C (as Calcium, Potassium, 650 mg 1080%
Magnesium, & Zinc ascorbates)
Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol) 900 IU 225%
Vitamin E (as d-alpha 200 IU 670%
tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin K (as Phylloquinone) 30 μg 40%
thiamin (as Thiamin HC l) 13.5 mg 900%
Riboflavin 13.5 mg 790%
Niacin (as Niacin and Niacinamide) 20 mg 100%
Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HC l) 16 mg 800%
Folate (as Folic Acid) 500 μg 130%
Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin) 100 μg 1670%
Biotin 150 μg 50%
Pantothenic Acid (as d-calcium 45 mg 450%
pantothenate)
Olivol® (olive Extract, 15 mg †
olea europaea L., fruit)**
Mixed Natural Tocopherols 17 mg †
(d-gamm a, d-delta, d-beta tocopherol)
Bioflavonoid comp lex 99 mg †
(rutin, Quercetin, Hesperidin [Citrus spp. L., fruit],
Green Tea extract-decaffeinated [Camellia sinensis
Hunt, leaves], Pomegranate Extract [punica granatum
l., fruit], cinnamon extract [cinnamomum cassia l.,
bark], Bilberry extract [Vacc inium myrtillus L., fruit)
Inositol 75 mg †
Choline Bitartrate 50 mg †
N-Acetyl L-Cysteine 50 mg †
Bromelain 25 mg †
Alpha Lipoic Acid 10 mg †
Coenzyme Q10 6 mg †
turmeric extract 7.5 mg †
(Curcuma longa l., root)
Lutein (Tagetes erecta l., flower) 300 μg †
Lycopene 500 μg †
Broccoli Concentrate 7.5 mg †
(Brassica oleracea v. botrytis L., flower)
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. †Daily Value not established. **Olivol is a trademark of USANA HEALTH HEALTH SCIENCES , Inc., protected under US Patents 6,358,542 or 6,361,803.

and the minerals (included as a separate tablet within the Essentials:

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 2 Tablets
Amount per serving %DV*
Calcium (as Calcium Citrate and Carbonate) 135 mg 15%
Iodine (as potassium iodide) 150 μg 100%
Magnesium (as Magnesium Citrate 150 mg 40%
and Amino Acid Chelate)
Zinc (as zinc citrate) 10 mg 70%
Selenium (as L-selenomethionine 100 μg 140%
and Amino Acid Complex)
Copper (as Copper Gluconate) 1 mg 50%
Manganese (as Manganese Gluconate) 2.5 mg 130%
Chromium (as chromium Polynicotinate 150 μg 130%
and picolinate** )
Molybdenum (as Molybdenum Citrate) 25 μg 35%
Boron (as boron citrate) 1.5 mg †
Silicon (as Silicon Am ino Acid Comp lex) 2 mg †
Vanadium (as Vanadium citrate) 20 μg †
Ultra trace Minerals 1.5 mg †
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
†Daily Value not established. **Licensed under U.S. Patent 4,315,927

To your good health!

Robin

PS  If anyone has any question about any specific ingredient in the Essentials- feel free to contact me for more information.

February 1, 2011 -- Well, you two sure livened up the end of January here at Lumigrate!  

I'd read Tom's response that's prior to Robin's latest response, immediately above this, and I thought maybe it was the hour of night and having been up pretty early for me working that was preventing me from understanding what he'd said, so I came back this morning and was pleased to see Robin had, late last night for her time zone, promptly responded to clarify.  I hope this exchange has clarified things for all the people who have read it when it was evolving or to follow.  

I think of myself as a fairly 'average' person in a way, when it comes to health care today.  While I've been exposed to more information about the concepts of integrative medicine, by having Lumigrate's office be within an integrative medicine center from it's foundational time through it's first stage/year of operation and a key commponent with the seminars utilized for educational outreach and marketing to this day, I also have several 'strikes against me' when it comes to my cognition.  So learning new information, particularly when complex, is a difficult thing for me. 

When it comes to something that on it's best day can be complicated, such as nutrition and supplementation, it's a challenge for me, as I believe it is for many people JUST to learn the information.  Then when you have to wade through what's fact and what's 'spun' for the advantages of making a particular product's sales, it adds a whole other layer of complexity which I think leaves people literally immobilized sometimes. 

This discussion has really reminded me of one of my primary goals today, just as it was three and two years ago when I was starting to purchase equipment, move into space, hire the talented people who helped me get this up off the ground the first year, and forumulate what you now see as this website, was to help the people that I knew were out there -- because I'd been working hands on with them in an outpatient clinic as an occupational therapist in an allopathic medical building and immersed in the insurance-based medicine paradigm. To help the people out there who have limited resources (time, energy, money) to find the most efficient and effective solutions to their health care problems and questions.  Nobody was coming to me there if they were well, they were coming because they had something significant going on.  And the medical providers generally weren't able to help them with much of what they were seeking out.  

With Lumigrate being a website about integrative health concepts, some of the people following have chronic medical problems to one extent or another, and some are healthy and wanting to stay that way and appreciate a website which helps sort through the overwhelming information out there, and then they can decide from there what they are to do about it.  (And then I hope to continue to grow mechanisms for them to be able to accomplish that.) 

So this piece was SO exemplary of what the average person out there experiences, and I feel that by reading it, they'll have a HUGE education about vitamins, minerals, supplementation of oral eating of foods for nutrition, 'whole foods', even 'hormones' are introduced. 

I look forward to any Comments readers take the time to write so we have the feedback and know how we're doing! ~~ Mardy