Vitamin and Calcium Supplements

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• What are vitamins and why are they important?
• Calcium and Vitamin D
  • What is it and what does it do?
  • What are the adverse consequences of inadequate calcium intake and low vitamin D?
  • What are recommendations for adequate calcium and vitamin D intake?
• Folic Acid
  • What is it and what does it do?
  • What foods are rich in folates and folic acid?
  • What are the adverse consequences of inadequate folic acid intake?
  • What are the benefits of taking folic acid supplements?
  • What is the toxicity of folic acid?
  • Who should consider taking folic acid supplements?
• Vitamin E
  • What is it and what does it do?
  • What foods are rich in vitamin E?
  • What are adverse consequences of inadequate vitamin E?
  • What are the benefits of vitamin E supplements?
  • What is the toxicity of vitamin E?
  • Who should consider using vitamin E supplements?
• Vitamin A
  • What is vitamin A and what does it do?
  • What foods are rich in vitamin A?
  • What are adverse consequences of inadequate vitamin A intake?
  • What are the benefits of vitamin A supplements?
  • What is the toxicity of vitamin A?
  • What are recommendations regarding vitamin A supplements?
• Vitamin C
  • What is vitamin C and what does it do?
  • What foods are rich in vitamin C?
  • What are the adverse consequences of vitamin C deficiency?
  • What are the benefits of taking vitamin C supplements?
  • What is the toxicity of vitamin C supplements?
  • Who should consider using vitamin C supplements?
• Vitamin B-12
  • What is vitamin B-12 and what does it do?
  • What are the adverse consequences of vitamin B-12 deficiency?
  • What foods are rich in vitamin B-12?
  • What are the benefits of vitamin B-12 supplements?
  • What is the toxicity of vitamin B-12?
  • Who should consider vitamin B-12 supplements?
• Vitamin B-6
  • What is vitamin B-6 and what does it do?
  • What are the adverse consequences of vitamin B-6 deficiency?
  • What are the benefits of vitamin B-6 supplements?
  • What foods are rich in vitamin B-6?
  • What is the toxicity of vitamin B-6?
  • Who should consider vitamin B-6 supplements?
• Summary: What are the general guidelines for vitamin supplements based on available data?

Are All Calcium Supplements the Same? Author: Betty Kovacs, MS, RD Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR A Viewer Asks: I've heard that not all calcium supplements are the same. Which over-the-counter vitamins or minerals help build bones? Which brands or types are better than others? Expert Answer: You heard right, not all calcium supplements are the same. The supplements will differ by the kinds of calcium that they contain, the amount that they contain, and any thing else that is added to them (other minerals or vitamins). Along with that, there are other factors that will affect how much of the calcium you will actually absorb, including medications that you are taking, your age, your vitamin D levels, the amount of calcium that you are taking and if you are pregnant. If you have any concerns over any of these, it would be best to speak with your physician before taking anything. The most common forms of calcium in supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. The differences between the two are... Learn more about the different types of calcium supplements » Top Searched Calcium Terms: calcium supplements, coral calcium, calcium carbonate, what is calcium used for, deficiency, calcium rich foods, calcium channel blockers, osteoporosis, where is it found, kidney stones, weight loss, vitamin D

What are vitamins and why are they important?

Vitamins are organic substances that are essential for the proper growth and functioning of the body. Unlike protein, fat, and carbohydrates, vitamins provide no calories. However, they are necessary (in small amounts) for normal chemical reactions (metabolism) inside the body. Vitamins must be obtained from food because the body cannot produce them. (The exception is vitamin D, which can be produced by the skin when it is exposed to the sun). If the intake of vitamin(s) is insufficient due to poor nutrition, restricted diets, or inadequate intestinal absorption of the vitamins, diseases can occur.

Examples of diseases caused by vitamin deficiencies (please see Table 1) include anemia (due to deficiencies of folic acid and vitamin B12), nerve and brain damage (due to deficiencies of thiamin and vitamin B12), easy and excessive bleeding (due to deficiency of vitamin K), impaired night vision and blindness (due to deficiency of vitamin A), bone diseases (due to deficiency of vitamin D or calcium), and scurvy (due to deficiency of vitamin C). These vitamin deficiency diseases are rare in the western societies, and occur mainly in areas of the world where people have very poor diets.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences has published the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA, also popularly referred to as Recommended Daily Allowance) for vitamin and mineral consumption. The RDAs represent the amounts of daily vitamin intake necessary to prevent vitamin deficiency diseases. An average person in the United States should be able to obtain all the vitamins to meet the RDAs from a balanced diet. Therefore, a healthy person eating a balanced diet should not require vitamin supplements.

However, vitamin deficiencies in the United States (please see Table 2) can still occur in certain populations. For example vitamin D deficiency is common among the elderly due to a combination of inadequate oral intake of vitamin D and lack of sun exposure. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can occur in patients with pernicious anemia and in elderly patients with atrophic gastritis (conditions where the patients are unable to absorb B-12 from the diet). Alcoholics can develop deficiency of thiamine, folic acid, and niacin. Patients taking orlistat, Xenical for weight reduction may not absorb fat and can develop vitamin deficiencies that normally dissolve in fat (the fat soluble vitamins A,D,E,K).

Furthermore, scientists have discovered that inadequate intake of certain vitamins can cause diseases NOT traditionally attributed to vitamin deficiency. For example, inadequate intake of folic acid and vitamin B-6 and B-12 is associated with elevated blood levels of homocysteine, and increased risk of heart attacks. Inadequate folic acid intake in women of childbearing age increases the risk of birth defects. Therefore even though gross vitamin deficiency diseases are rare in the United States, vitamin supplements are recommended in this country to prevent vitamin deficiency in special populations and to prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, strokes, birth defects, and perhaps certain cancers.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Electroretinography - Read about electroretinography (ERG), an eye test where electrodes placed on the cornea measure electrical responses to light to try to detect abnormal retinal function. Source:MedicineNet Taking Dental Medications - Learn what questions to ask the dentist before taking dental medications. Be sure to tell your dentist if you're pregnant, taking other drugs, have drug allergies or medical conditions. Source:WebMD Medical Reference from The Cleveland Clinic Pernicious Anemia - Read about a blood disorder called pernicious anemia caused when the body does not make enough red blood cells due to lack of vitamin B12. Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention information is included. Source:Government Read 321 more Vitamins and Calcium Supplements related articles ... Garlic & Vitamin Pill for Heart Disease? Glucosamine: No Help for Hip Arthritis? Folic Acid Doesn't Help the Heart Grapefruit Compound Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Low Vitamin D Tied to Depression in Older Adults Vitamin D Deficiency Worsens Breast Cancer? Omega-3 Fatty Acids Won't Prevent Crohn's Relapse Health Tip: Potassium-Rich Foods Low Vitamin D Levels May Boost Men's Heart Attack Risk Cancer Patients Should Steer Clear of Antioxidants