European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 01, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 16 the stars and stripes Friday november 1, 1985 consumer watch the Vitamin e fad and other myths by Mary Neth consumer editor t he big Vitamin e fad that took America by storm in the Early 1970s has made it across the Ocean. Germans now Are gulping Down this Vitamin in the form of capsules and Dragee morning noon and night. For Sarah Keleher registered Date Tullon and nutritionist for the army in Heidelberg this is a prime example of health concern gone off the deep end. Instead of spending your Money on expensive Vitamin and Mineral supplements she advises take the time and Effort to eat a Well balanced diet. You will probably spend toss Money and be healthier in the Long despite such solid advice there is a continual attraction to the touted wonders of different Vitamin preparations. Vitamin a in particular seems to offer a special fascination. According to the . Department of health and human services haste exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims made for it Are based on a combination of Hope and misinterpretation. Ii i though pharmacists had discovered a now wonder drug practically a source of perpetual youth. If you Are beginning to see those first wrinkles and your memory in t what it used to be if you feel weak after the slightest exertion and making love is an Effort then. In Many cases our product will be the source of new strength advertises one manufacturer. Such advertising promotions Are proven winners. They shot up Sale in the United states now they Are doing the same in Germany. According to a study by the German pharmaceutical Industry in 1981 sales of Vitamin e preparations totalled four million Marks. In 1984, they climbed to 160 million Marks. In 1985, it is expected they will increase to 250 million Marks. The United states recommended Dally allowance for Vitamin e is 30 International units for adults and children four years and older. In Germany where a different measuring Standard is used the society for nutrition has set the Dally intake Lor adults at 12 milligrams a Day half of which is counted Only As a precautionary measure. The manufacturers of Vitamin e preparations however Are advising doses of from 300 to 1,000 milligrams. Many nutritionists feel that such High doses can Lead to toxic conditions. A group of . Scientists found a whole Range of problems from Over consumption of Vitamin e headaches dizziness High blood pressure vaginal bleeding diarrhoea weak Muscles. Or. Louis Arnold Scarrone a nutritionist at Columbia University writes thai none of the claims of Vitamin e exponents have been shown to be Vitamin e pc not an aphrodisiac. There is no evidence that it improves Potency. It does not cure sterility or according to highs Vitamin e acts As an Antl oxidant that helps to prevent oxygen from destroying other substances. Scarrone. However states that no on really knows what it prof. Ibrahim Elmada a dietary expert at the University of Glessen in Germany agrees. The exact function of the Vitamin is unclear he says. Though it appears to be necessary for life in lower animals there is no disease in humans that has been proven to correspond with a deficiency of Vitamin e. Furthermore notes Scarrone it is in abundance everywhere. In a wheat and Cereal germ eggs Leafy vegetables fish and nuts. It is hard to believe that anyone in a developed country would Ever be deficient in this the committee on nutritional misinformation of the National Academy of sciences reports that surveys of the . Population indicate that adequate amounts Are supplied by the usual ii warns that self medication with Vitamin a in the Hope that a More or less serious condition will be alleviated May be at to the need of any Type of Vitamin supplement Kelleher notes lat for hundreds of thousands of years people got All the vitamins and minerals they needed from the foods they ate. However she notes our ancestors lacked the processed and fast foods drugs cigarettes and steady Supply of alcohol that can interfere with adequate nutrition. Vitamin and Mineral supplements should never be used to replace a Well balanced diet. On the other hand she says. If you feel that you do not always eat properly then a Dally Multi Vitamin Tablet can be used As an insurance policy in torn Ca it Vitamin and Mineral supplements Are recommended in addition to a balanced diet says Kelleher. For example pregnant and nursing women May need them. These supplements should be prescribed by a doctor. Pregnant women should never take Mega doses of any Vitamin or Kelleher notes that heavy drinkers need More b vitamins smokers need More Vitamin c. And women on Oral contraceptives should take a . Women also require More Iron than men. She says and Iron is difficult to get in a Normal diet. Thereto a daily Tablet with Iron is recommended other than in such cases Vitamin and Mineral supplements especially taken in Large amounts Are a Complete waste of Money and in some cases May by she adds that Many Mineral supplements can interfere with absorption of other important Mals pipes of of Trace minerals is not a Good Aslo natural vitamins non Intorf a ,.__ i a
