Although vitamins and minerals are ...

Although vitamins and minerals are commonly used, the health benefits of these counterparts are unclear. Most research has contemplateed at the effect of these counterparts on immunity and infectious disease, with conflicting be the effects Barringer and associates used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the subjective tenor of vitamin and mineral supplementation forward physical and emotional well-being in healthy adults.

A total of 158 participants older than 45 years received a daily oral tablet containing frequent doses of vitamins and minerals or a sway tablet containing calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B2 for 12 month All participants complet a stres scale questionnaire and kept a daily feed diary. The primary end point was participant-reported infection noted in a daily symptom list kept by the agency of all participants as well as a record of infection significance showed by days of missed work or inability to perform planned activities. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and at 12 month using the Medical results Study 12-Item Short Form.

Seventy-three percent of the participants in the check group had at least united infection-related illness, a rate that was significantly greater than the 43 percent infection rate in the treatment arrange Illness-related absenteeism also was significantly greater in the superintend group. These differences were primarily noted among participants with diabetes. There was no difference in import on quality of life between the treatment and mastery groups.

The authors gather that although there appears to be no improvement in physical and mental health measures or quality of life among healthy users of daily vitamin and mineral continuations patients with diabetes who may go through from micronutrient deficiency demonstrate reduc infection oftenness Further testing is necessary to identify additional populations who may benefit from daily vitamin and mineral supplementation.

In an editorial in the same journal, Fawzi and Stampfer point on the outside the specific vitamin supplements that have been demonstrated to preclude chronic disease in certain situations, including folate, vitamin B12 vitamin A, and zinc. Although the data are not definite, they remind of that the potential positive impact of appendixs on infection deserves further studious mood especially among susceptible populations, like as patients with diabetes.

RICHARD SADOVSKY, MD

Barringer TA, et al. import of a multivitamin and mineral supply on infection and quality of life. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled consideration Ann Intern Med March 4 2003;138:365-71 and Fawzi W Stampfer MJ A part for multivitamins in infection?[Editorial] Ann Intern M March 4 2003;138:430-1

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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