Should You Take a Dietary Supplement?

We are frequently asked whether dietary supplements should be included in a nutritional plan. We recommend supplements, yet it is our opinion that dietary supplements should not be used to substitute for a properly balanced diet based on lean proteins, generous servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day, whole grain cereals, and tied to a regular exercise program.

11 Multivitamins to Avoid

In addition, dietary supplements vary widely in cost. To illustrate this point, we have compiled an indepth review of two supplements based on information and statements from the product manufacturers. We compare the well-known companies, Kirkland Signature and PharmanexUSA. Kirkland Signature can be found in bulk purchase locations such as Costco. PharmanexUSA is available through online or network marketing systems.

We analyzed the Kirkland Signature product, Daily Vitamin/Mineral with Lycopene, 500 tablet container. This represents a 500-day supply (one table per day), and costs about $25. This averages about $0.05 per tablet -- or five cents per day per person.



At the other end of the cost spectrum is the PharmanexUSA LifePak Anti-Aging Formula, 60-packet order, which represents a 30-day supply (two packets per day), and costs nearly $100. This averages about $3.00 per day per person.



LifePak Prime Anti-Aging Formula
Item: #01003485 :: Size 60 packets :: Retail Price: $93.10

Our First Concern
PharmanexUSA includes the following disclaimer on their product pages:

Let us reiterate, the PharmanexUSA product "is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." PharmanexUSA instructs their customers to take one packet of their formula twice daily. Essentally, it costs nearly $100 per month for this supplement. Yet their formula is not intended to prevent any disease. What good is this product?

We want to point out that this PharmanexUSA product contains a robust blend of vitamins, nutrients and minerals that are considered by the scientific community to add positively to our health. In particular, their LifePak Prime Anti-Aging formula includes numerous anti-oxidants. We are unaware of any health research or scientific organization that opposes increasing anti-oxidants moderately in our diet.

Our Second Concern
Although the scientific community encourages an increase in anti-oxidants in our diet, what is the most effective method of doing this? PharmanexUSA highlighted a BBC report on their website that summarized the results of a large-N French study that focused on the affect of increasing anti-oxidants in diet. This report provides some valuable insight into this area.

French scientists, the BBC reported, provided supplements containing similar levels of anti-oxidant nutrients found in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to a total of 13,000 men and women. Participants ranged in age from 35-60, and the scientists monitored the subjects over a seven year period. The study suggested cancer rates fell by almost a third, and death rates decreased by nearly 40 percent. Yet these results occurred only in men -- women participants saw no measurable benefits.

This is a significant finding. The researchers claim their work "provides compelling evidence of the importance of a healthy diet." We agree. The dietary supplement contained 6mg of beta-carotene, 120mg of vitamin C, 90mg of vitamin E, 100mcg of selenium and 20mg of zinc. On the one hand, the supplements helped the male participants greatly. On the other, the supplements appeared to have no affect on women who were already consuming a well-balanced diet.

Study Summary
The French scientists found that the inclusion of the dietary supplements significantly reduced, by 31 percent, the risk of all cancers in men. They also found that, overall, the death rate in men was reduced by 37 percent.
Download PDF Copy of BBC Report

They found no beneficial affects from the supplements for women. The scientists attributed this finding to the better diets of women in general. Essentially, the supplements were "making up" for the poor nutritional habits of men. They provided no additional benefit to the women who were already consuming a healthy and balanced diet.

Taking the supplements, on the other hand, had no effect on heart disease for men or women. InfoImagination believes this supports our MAD™ fitness program philosophy. Having a nutritionally balanced diet, with or without supplements, is a necessary part of a healthy life style, but it is not sufficient alone. We must include a regular exercise program.

In addition, the supplements did not appear to provide superior nutrients from those obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables. The scientists concluded the opposite, "There is reason to believe that the effect would be less than that of dietary sources of anti-oxidants, particularly fruit and vegetables, which provide other protective substances."

One concern about dietary supplements is how much is enough -- or how much is too much? The BBC pointed out that a Food Standards Agency report warned that overdosing on vitamins and minerals can be harmful.

Our Third Concern
PharmanexUSA advertises a revolutionary product, their BioPhotonic scanner (left), which allows for quick, and non-intrusive measurement of anti-oxidants in an individual's skin.

Yet PharmanexUSA does not provide guidelines about the appropriate level of anti-oxidants in the body (see table below). After listening to a CD presentation and watching a short video, we observed the possible danger of the PharmanexUSA approach.

Their first speaker boasted a score of 48,000. A woman followed noting an initial score below 20,000. After taking supplements for a couple months, she increased to the mid-50,000s, and through continued use jumped to 96,000. At what point, if at all, do supplements become toxic?

Conclusions
We urge you to learn as much as you can about anti-oxidants, supplements and nutrition. A poor quality diet is a pathway to disease and disaster. We also recommend getting a professional evaluation. We believe a device such as the PharmanexUSA BioPhotonic scanner is an excellent starting point.

In answer to the original question: Should supplements be included in a nutritional plan? Yes, we recommend taking a simple dietary supplement daily, as we recognize it is difficult to eat "perfectly" all the time. We have shown two examples of supplements. The Kirkland Signature tablet will cost you less than $5 per month. For a family of four, the PharmanexUSA LifePak products may cost about $350-$400 per month.

Ultimately, you must decide which product is right for you. InfoImagination recommends using less expensive dietary supplements, and suggests that you apply the extra money to health club dues, purchasing a bike, hiking more often, and generally increasing the quality of the foods you consume, i.e., lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grain cereals and breads.

If you have additional questions, please Contact Us.