Doctors Say, Raise the RDAs Now

[kebaldwin]

Al Sears, MD
12794 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 16
Wellington, FL 33414

November 26, 2007

Dear Reader,

I read something the other day that you should get a kick out of...

An independent panel of 23 health experts finally concluded that the government’s “recommended daily allowance” of vitamins and minerals is much too low.

In a statement released on October 30th, the Independent Vitamin Safety Review Panel wrote, “Government-sponsored nutrient recommendations, such as the US RDA/DRIs, are not keeping pace with recent progress in nutrition research... Inadequate [nutritional] intake, and inadequate standards to judge intake, have resulted in widespread nutrient inadequacy, chronic disease, and an undernourished but overweight population.”1

They went on to point out that a host of scientific studies – many of which I’ve cited in my own work – prove that heart disease, cancer, and even mental illness can be prevented simply by using nutritional supplements.

And, the panel also sounded the bell on whole foods versus processed foods. They wrote: “People have been led to believe that they can get all the nutrients they need from a ‘balanced diet’ of processed foods. That is not true. For adequate vitamin and mineral intake, a diet of unprocessed, whole foods, along with the intelligent use of nutritional supplements, is more than just a good idea: it is essential.”

What’s more, they listed specific vitamins and minerals I use every day in my medical practice, including B-vitamins, vitamins C and D, and the minerals selenium, zinc, magnesium, and chromium. These nutrients have enormous healing power. They can:

Lower blood pressure
Boost brainpower and heart health
Improve mood
Strengthen your immune system
Ward off brittle bones and muscle fatigue
Prevent or reverse diabetes
Eliminate arthritis, joint pain, and inflammation
Prevent Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
Increase libido and performance
So in light of this new information, what should you do now?

Here’s my list of what I’ve been recommending to my patients as compared to the USRDA. Consider it “Dr. Sears’s RDA”:

Nutrient
USRDA
DSRDA

Vitamin C
60 mg
1,000 - 3,000 mg

Vitamin D
400 IEU
1,000 – 5,000 IEU

Chromium
35 mcg
200 mcg

Zinc
15 mg
30 mg


You can see from the chart that there’s quite a difference in the quantities. And, taking these additional amounts can make quite a difference in your health too.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. “Doctors Say, Raise the RDAs Now,” Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, October 30, 2007.

http://www.alsearsmd.com/content/index.php?id=113

[kebaldwin]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, October 30, 2007


Doctors Say, Raise the RDAs Now
(OMNS October 30, 2007) The US Recommended Daily Allowance/Dietary Reference Intakes are too low and most should be raised immediately, says an independent panel of physicians, academics and researchers. In a statement this week, the Independent Vitamin Safety Review Panel said: “Government-sponsored nutrient recommendations, such as the US RDA/DRIs, are not keeping pace with recent progress in nutrition research. While current official recommendations for vitamin A, iron, calcium, and some other nutrients are generally adequate, the public has been asked to consume far too little of many other key nutrients. Inadequate intake, and inadequate standards to judge intake, have resulted in widespread nutrient inadequacy, chronic disease, and an undernourished but overweight population.” Citing a large number of physician reports and clinical studies, the IVSRP called for substantial increases in daily intake of the B-vitamins, vitamins C, D and E, and the minerals selenium, zinc, magnesium and chromium. “Raising the RDA/DRI will save lives and improve health,” the Panel said. “Clinical and sub-clinical nutrient deficiencies are among the main causes of our society’s greatest healthcare problems. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and other diseases are caused or aggravated by poor nutrient intake. The good news is that scientific evidence shows that adequately high consumption of nutrients helps prevent these diseases.”

Specifically, the IVSRP called for a new standard, an Optimum Health Requirement, recommending daily adult consumption of nutrients in the following higher quantities:

Vitamins

B-1 Thiamine: 25 mg
B-2 Riboflavin: 25 mg
B-3 Niacinamide: 300 mg
B-6 Pyridoxine: 25 mg
Folic acid: 2,000 mcg
B-12 Cobalamin: 500 mcg
C: 2,000 mg
D3: 1,500 IU
E as natural mixed tocopherols: 200 IU

Minerals

Zinc: 25 mg
Magnesium: 500 mg
Selenium: 200 mcg
Chromium: 200 mcg

The Panel concluded by stating: "In the past, over-conservative government-sponsored standards have encouraged dietary complacency. People have been led to believe that they can get all the nutrients they need from a 'balanced diet' of processed foods. That is not true. For adequate vitamin and mineral intake, a diet of unprocessed, whole foods, along with the intelligent use of nutritional supplements, is more than just a good idea: it is essential."

Independent Vitamin Safety Review Panelists are:

Abram Hoffer, MD
Michael Janson, MD
Thomas Levy, MD, JD
Erik Paterson, MD
Woody R. McGinnis, MD
Allan N. Spreen, MD
Bo H. Jonsson, MD, PhD
Chris M. Reading, MD
Bradford Weeks, MD
Karin Munsterhjelm-Ahumada, MD
Jerry Green, MD
Stephen Faulkner, MD
Klaus Wenzel, MD
Richard Huemer, MD
Peter H. Lauda, M.D.
Jonathan Prousky, ND
Michael Friedman, ND
William B. Grant, PhD
Harold Foster, PhD
H. H. Nehrlich, PhD
Steve Hickey, PhD
Gert E. Schuitemaker, PhD
Andrew W. Saul, PhD, Chair

Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine

Linus Pauling defined orthomolecular medicine as "the treatment of disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body." Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org

The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource.

Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D., Editor and contact person. Email: omns~orthomolecular.org


To Subscribe at no charge: http://www.orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html

http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v03n10.shtml

[Zuleikaa]

I still think some of it is still too low. But TG for them doing the report!!! Now it will just sit and be ignored...as usual.

[Fitmamajen]

It would be awesome if the RDAs were revised so people could supplement themselves properly without being worried about toxicity.

And, the panel also sounded the bell on whole foods versus processed foods. They wrote: “People have been led to believe that they can get all the nutrients they need from a ‘balanced diet’ of processed foods. That is not true. For adequate vitamin and mineral intake, a diet of unprocessed, whole foods, along with the intelligent use of nutritional supplements, is more than just a good idea: it is essential.”

I know so many people like this. Our bodies need loads of nutrients to attain optimal health!

Thanks for the article.

[waywardsis]

Yes, it would be nice if they'd give a range (min/max) and also account for ranges of various forms - ie: natural A (like from CLO) is not toxic at high doses whereas the synthetic form is.

I wonder if eating a "proper" diet - which to me means whole foods, low-carb, grain-free and soy-free (others may vary on this, I have to be grain-free) - means one needs to consume less vitamins etc, bc our bodies utilize smaller amounts more efficiently? I mean they're looking at people who are eating processed, grain-based, sugary diets in these studies, right? What about people like us?

[Brandy23]

ok that was way to much for me to read right now since i have a headache but i guess i'll say ok and agree with all of you, hehehe