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In the June 19, 2002 issue of "The Journal of the American Medical Association", researchers from Harvard Medical School have recommended that everybody, regardless of age or health status, take a daily multi-vitamin. The report shows that people on both normal and restrictive diets may not be getting enough of certain vitamins. Studies have shown that taking folic acid may help prevent certain birth defects, while others have suggested the vitamin may cut the risk of certain cancers and heart disease. A good multivitamin should have at least 75mg of the B vitamins and 400mcg of folic acid.

Numerous surveys of large numbers of people have consistently shown that a large percentage of the American public is deficient in one or more nutrient vitamins and/or minerals. This is especially so with the approach of middle age, where we see increasing deficiencies in riboflavin, pyridoxal –5-phosphate (vitamin B6) as well as several of the carotenoids and Vitamin E.

This becomes important when we realize that even single nutrient deficiencies can result in profound suppression of the immune system. It has been demonstrated in numerous studies that as we approach middle age our immune function declines, especially that portion that protects us against cancer, T-cell function and natural killer cells (NK cells). Supplementation with the carotenoid vitamins (B-carotene, alpha carotene, canthoxanthin and lutein) as well as the “B” vitamins can restore this lost immunity.

There is also compelling evidence that a loss of cognitive function, including recent memory, is closely linked to the “B” vitamins, cartenoids and vitamin C. We know that persons with Alzheimer’s dementia, as well as vascular dementia, have low levels of the carotenoids, “B” vitamins and Vitamin C.

Most Americans eat a diet composed of variations of processed foods. Rarely do we eat fresh, vine ripened vegetables and fresh fruits. Several studies have shown that processing foods removes numerous nutrients, especially the “B” vitamins, ascorbate and vitamin E as well as special antioxidants such as glutathione. It is for this reason that we should supplement our diet with a well-compounded multivitamin mineral supplement, to insure that we are getting all of the nutrients our bodies need to prevent disease and maintain its normal function.