CRN Emphasizes Benefits of Vitamins; Evidence on Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Still Emerging

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http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/news.asp?Id=7222

 

CRN Emphasizes Benefits of Vitamins; Evidence on Cancer and Cardiovascular

Disease Still Emerging

 

 

WASHINGTON, Jun 30, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Council for Responsible

Nutrition (CRN) issued the following statement in response to a report from the

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in the July 1 Annals of Internal

Medicine titled " Routine Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and

Cardiovascular Disease: Recommendations and Rationale. "

Statement by Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., CRN President:

" The report concludes that, while ' ... there is little reason to discourage

people from taking vitamin supplements,' there is not sufficient evidence to

recommend for or against the use of vitamins for the specific purpose of

preventing cancer and heart disease. The USPSTF recommended against the use of

large supplemental doses of beta-carotene, especially in smokers, but recognized

that 'there is no evidence to suggest that beta- carotene is harmful to smokers

at levels occurring naturally in foods.'

The USPSTF did a good job of reviewing the emerging evidence relating to cancer

and heart disease by citing some positive studies and some inconclusive ones and

concluded that, on balance, we need more research on these topics.

It is important to bear in mind that cancer and heart disease are not the only

-- or even the primary -- reasons for using vitamins.

For example, recent reviews by key researchers at Harvard Medical School have

concluded that multivitamins are a good idea for virtually all adults. Dr.

Walter Willett and Dr. Meir Stampfer concluded in a 2001 article in the New

England Journal of Medicine that a daily RDA-type multivitamin ' ... makes sense

for most adults.' Dr. Kathleen Fairfield and Dr. Robert Fletcher similarly

concluded in a 2002 article in JAMA that a multivitamin would be prudent for

virtually all adults-and that the elderly might consider taking two a day. These

researchers were well aware of the data cited by the USPSTF, and they

affirmatively recommended multivitamins based on a wider range of benefits,

including simply compensating for inadequate nutrient intakes and overcoming

age-related decreases in absorption or metabolism. Potential benefits include

strengthening immune function, protecting against cataracts and macular

degeneration, improving cognitive function, building strong bones, and helping

women of childbearing age protect against having a baby with a neural tube

defect. As noted by the USPSTF, there are also positive studies suggesting

potential benefits even for cancer and heart disease, for some nutrients.

An article in the June 28 British Medical Journal breaks new ground in proposing

a 'polypill' composed of several components -- including the B vitamin folic

acid -- that the researchers say could prevent 80 or 90 percent of heart disease

and stroke. Obviously these researchers were more persuaded than the USPSTF

about the value of folic acid in reducing homocysteine levels and therefore

reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The bottom line is that individuals have to make their own decisions about what

makes sense for their own healthy lifestyle. But many scientists believe, as

does CRN, that the regular use of dietary supplements, with a multivitamin as

the foundation of a smart nutrition program, makes good sense for the overall

promotion of good health and prevention of disease. "

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington,

D.C.-based trade association representing dietary supplement industry ingredient

suppliers and manufacturers. CRN members adhere to a strong code of ethics,

comply with dosage limits and manufacture dietary supplements to high quality

standards under good manufacturing practices.

SOURCE Council for Responsible Nutrition

CONTACT: Judy Blatman of the Council for Responsible Nutrition,

+1-202-204-7962

URL: http://www.crnusa.org http://www.prnewswire.com

 

 

 

 

 

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