The Health Sciences Institute is intended to provide cutting-edge health information.
Nothing on this site should be interpreted as personal medical advice. Always consult with your doctor before changing anything related to your healthcare.

Health benefits of supplements

The Multi-Tasker

Even if you’re never ordered Exercise-in-a-Bottle from an infomercial at 3 a.m. or stopped by the Metabolife kiosk at your local mall, you may already be taking a supplement that can help you lose weight.

Earlier this month, researchers for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle announced the results of study, involving nearly 15,000 subjects with an average age of 55. After
following the subjects’ medical histories, diets and supplement intakes for about ten years, the Hutchinson team found four supplements that were associated with weight reduction among
subjects who were overweight or obese at the outset of the study.

The diet-friendly supplements: multivitamins, chromium, and vitamins B-6 and B-12.

When I read this list, I couldn’t help but notice that the latter three items are often found in high quality multivitamins. So, many people who already take a good multivitamin may be getting an unexpected assist in their efforts to lose weight.

But that’s certainly not all they’re getting. In recent months, research has produced evidence that multivitamins enhance general good health while providing protection from a common type of cancer.

Going long

Multivitamin use over long periods has been associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer in previous research. So researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) designed a study to further investigate this relationship.

In 1992, ACS researchers enrolled more than 145,000 men and women to participate in a five-year multivitamin study. All of these subjects had also participated in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort (begun a decade earlier) in which their multivitamin usage was recorded.

As reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology, 797 cases of colorectal cancer were reported among the study group between 1992 and 1997. After adjusting for risk factors, researchers found that multivitamin use that began just prior to the 1992 enrollment was not associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. But the participants who had reported regular multivitamin use (4 or more times per week) in the early 80s, fared much better: their group had a 30 percent reduced risk of the cancer.

The researchers say that further studies are necessary to establish clear evidence that long-term multivitamin use is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Also unknown is just how the nutrients in multivitamins combine to offer protection. I’m sure we’ll see more research in this area in the future, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for those results.

Multiplying the savings

Meanwhile, another 2003 study found a strong association between general good health and multivitamin use.

The study was conducted by the Lewin Group (a healthcare consulting firm), and funded by a subsidiary of the Wyeth pharmaceutical company; Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, which manufactures about 10 percent of the vitamin supplements made in the U.S. Researchers analyzed more than 125 clinical studies and additional scientific literature to determine the health benefits of multivitamins, and the subsequent savings in healthcare bills for people 65 and older.

The Lewin report was presented at a Washington, D.C. meeting titled “Multivitamins and Public Health: Exploring the Evidence.” Researchers said that based on demonstrated multivitamin
protection from the risk of coronary artery disease, as well as benefits to the immune system, they projected a five-year Medicare savings of more than $1.6 billion if all U.S. citizens over the age of 65 took a daily multi.

But the actual savings could be much higher. In their calculations, researchers didn’t include expenditures associated with diabetes, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer, because, based on the sources they used, they couldn’t conclude that multivitamins
have a direct preventive effect on those health problems. (The Lewin team didn’t have access to the ACS colorectal cancer study, which was released the same week.)

These results were put into perspective by the director of Healthcare Finance for the Lewin Group, Allen Dobson, Ph.D., who told meeting attendees that in his experience, “finding any cost savings for preventive measures is unusual and finding cost savings of this magnitude is very rare.”

Supplement checklist

Clearly, it makes sense to take a good multivitamin every day. It’s inexpensive, it can’t do any harm, and as we’ve seen above, the evidence is mounting that long-term multivitamin use may provide a host of positive health benefits.

This isn’t news to HSI members, of course. But for those of you who may have missed some of the many vitamin tips from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., I’ve collected a few of the most important ones to help you choose the most effective multi.

  • Avoid a multivitamin that’s a hard pill. Dr. Spreen says, “There
    are a few (read that a FEW) pill forms that break down quickly, but
    they are rare. I always use capsule, powder or liquid forms
    whenever possible, as they at least guarantee that the individual
    gets what he swallows.”
  • Avoid time-release vitamins. Dr. Spreen: “I don’t use time-
    release forms, as you’re then using a preparation deliberately
    designed not to give its contents to you. I prefer to have the
    individual be his own ‘time-releaser’ by multiple dosing throughout
    the day.”
  • Vitamins are absorbed more efficiently when taken with meals.
    Dr. Spreen: “They are better digested that way (they’re food
    supplements).”
  • Avoid getting too much iron. Dr. Spreen: “Concerning multi-
    vitamin/mineral preparations there can be one problem, and that’s
    iron. It’s too high, in my opinion, for most everyone as it is a
    known generator of free radicals in biological systems (if it’s
    inorganic iron as most are in supplements).”

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Sources:
“Chromium, B Vitamins Could Reduce Middle-Aged Spread”
NutraIngredients.com, 9/14/04, nutraingredients.com
“Multivitamin Use and Colorectal Cancer Incidence in a US
Cohort: Does Timing Matter?” American Journal of Epidemiology
2003; 158:621-628, aje.oupjournals.org
“Timing Key to Multivitamin Benefits” NutraIngredients.com,
10/8/03, nutraingredients.com
“A Study of the Cost Effects of Daily Multivitamins for Older
Adults” The Lewin Group, 10/2/03, lewin.com
“Analysis: Multivitamins Good but Who Pays?” Ellen Beck,
United Press International, 10/2/03, washingtontimes.com
“New Study Finds Increased Multivitamin Use by the Elderly
Could Save Medicare $1.6 Billion” PR Newswire, 10/2/03,
prnewswire.com

Get a free copy of 5 Household Items that Cause Cancer

By texting HSI to 844-539-1128, you are providing your electronic signature expressly consenting to be called and texted (including by prerecorded messages, using an autodialer, and/or automated means) with alerts, stories, reports, and marketing communications from Institute of Health Sciences, LLC. and its authorized representatives at the phone number you provide, including landlines and wireless numbers, even if the phone number is on a corporate, state or national Do Not Call list. You also consent and unconditionally agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the arbitration provision and class action waiver contained therein. Msg&data rates may apply. 15 Msgs/Month. You are not required to agree to this as a condition of making a purchase.

Terms & Conditions

The following Terms and Conditions apply to your use of the website located at hsionline.com (the “website”) and any text messages that you send to or receive from the Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C. These Terms and Conditions constitute a binding agreement (“Agreement”) between you (“you”) Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C (“we”, “us”, etc.)  Please read these terms carefully. 

By providing your telephone number to us, texting us a short code listed on the website, or otherwise indicate your agreement to these Terms and Conditions, you are agreeing to the mandatory arbitration provision and class action waiver below. 

ARBITRATION IS MANDATORY AND THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY AND ALL DISPUTES RELATED TO THIS WEBSITE, THIS AGREEMENT, AND ANY TELEPHONE CALLS, EMAILS, OR TEXT MESSAGES THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM OR ON BEHALF OF US, UNLESS SPECIFIED BELOW OR UNLESS YOU OPT-OUT.

Text Messaging and Telemarketing Terms and Conditions

When you provide your telephone number on this website or send a text message to us with or from a short-code, you agree to receive alerts and communications, and marketing messages including those sent via automated telephone dialing system, text messages, SMS, MMS, and picture messages from Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C at the phone number you provide on this website or the phone number from which you text the short code, including on landlines and wireless numbers, even if the phone number is on a corporate, state or national Do Not Call list. You also agree to the mandatory arbitration provision and class action waiver below. Your consent is not required to purchase goods or services. Message & data rates may apply.

You may opt-out at any time by texting the word STOP to the telephone number from which you receive the text messages.  Call 1-888-213-0764 to learn more.  By providing your telephone number, you agree to notify us of any changes to your telephone number and update your account us to reflect this change. Your carrier may charge you for text messages and telephone calls that you receive, or may prohibit or restrict certain mobile features, and certain mobile features may be incompatible with your carrier or mobile device. Contact your carrier with questions regarding these issues.

Dispute Resolution by Binding Arbitration and Class Action Waiver

Any dispute relating in any way to telephone calls, emails, or text messages that you receive from or on behalf of Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C this website, or this Agreement (collectively “Disputes”) shall be submitted to confidential arbitration and shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the State of Maryland, excluding its conflict of law provisions.  For the avoidance of doubt, all claims arising under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and state telemarketing laws shall be considered “Disputes” that are subject to resolution by binding individual, confidential arbitration.

If a Dispute arises under this Agreement, you agree to first contact us at 1-888-213-0764 or help@hsionline.com. Before formally submitting a Dispute to arbitration, you and we may choose to informally resolve the Dispute.  If any Dispute cannot be resolved informally, you agree that any and all Disputes, including the validity of this arbitration clause and class action waiver, shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before a single arbitrator of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in a location convenient to you or telephonically. Either you or we may commence the arbitration process by submitting a written demand for arbitration with the AAA, and providing a copy to the other party.  The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the AAA’s Commercial Dispute Resolutions Procedures, Supplementary Procedures for Consumer-Related Disputes, in effect at the time of submission of the demand for arbitration.  Except as may be required by law as determined by the arbitrator, no party or arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties. Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C will pay all of the filing costs.  Without limiting the foregoing, YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE TO SUBMIT TO ARBITRATION ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO ANY TEXT MESSAGES OR TELEPHONE CALLS YOU RECEIVE FROM OR ON BEHALF OF US OR ANY ENTITY WITH WHOM WE MAY SHARE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.  Further, we both agree that all entities with whom we share your telephone numbers shall be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement to Arbitrate Disputes, and that those entities have the same rights as Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C to enforce this arbitration provision.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not be subject to arbitration and may be adjudicated only in the state and federal courts of Maryland: (i) any dispute, controversy, or claim relating to or contesting the validity of our or one of our family company’s intellectual property rights and proprietary rights, including without limitation, patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, or trade secrets; (ii) an action by us for temporary or preliminary injunctive relief, whether prohibitive or mandatory, or other provisional relief; (iii) any legal action by us against a non-consumer; or (iv) interactions with governmental and regulatory authorities.  You expressly agree to refrain from bringing or joining any claims in any representative or class-wide capacity, including but not limited to bringing or joining any claims in any class action or any class-wide arbitration.

The arbitrator’s award shall be binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no arbitration under this Agreement may be joined to an arbitration involving any other party subject to this Agreement, whether through a class action, private attorney general proceeding, class arbitration proceedings or otherwise.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A RIGHT TO LITIGATE IN A COURT, TO HAVE A JUDGE OR JURY DECIDE YOUR CASE AND TO BE PARTY TO A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION.  HOWEVER, YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO HAVE ANY CLAIMS DECIDED INDIVIDUALLY AND ONLY THROUGH ARBITRATION.  You shall have thirty (30) days from the earliest of the date that you visit the website, the date you submit information to us through the website, or the date that you send a text message to us, to opt out of this arbitration agreement, by contacting us by email at help@hsionline.com or by mail Health Sciences Institute, PO Box 913, Frederick, MD 21705-0913. If you do not opt out by the earliest of the date that you visit the website, the date you submit information to us through the website, or the date that you send a text message to us, then you are not eligible to opt out of this arbitration agreement.

Electronic Signatures

All information communicated on the website is considered an electronic communication.  When you communicate with us through or on the website, by text message or telephone, or via other forms of electronic media, such as e-mail, you are communicating with us electronically.  You agree that we may communicate electronically with you and that such communications, as well as notices, disclosures, agreements, and other communications that we provide to you electronically, are equivalent to communications in writing and shall have the same force and effect as if they were in writing and signed by the party sending the communication.

You further acknowledge and agree that by clicking on a button labeled “ORDER NOW”, “SUBMIT”, “I ACCEPT”, “I AGREE”, “YES”, by texting a short code to us in response to a request on this website, or by clicking or similar links or buttons, you are submitting a legally binding electronic signature and are entering into a legally binding contract.  You acknowledge that your electronic submissions constitute your agreement and intent to be bound by this Agreement.  Pursuant to any applicable statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances or other laws, including without limitation the United States Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, P.L. 106-229 (the “E-Sign Act”) or other similar statutes, YOU HEREBY AGREE TO THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES, CONTRACTS, ORDERS AND OTHER RECORDS AND TO ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF NOTICES, POLICIES AND RECORDS OF TRANSACTIONS INITIATED OR COMPLETED THROUGH THE WEBSITE.  Furthermore, you hereby waive any rights or requirements under any statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances or other laws in any jurisdiction which require an original signature, delivery or retention of non-electronic records, or to payments or the granting of credits by other than electronic means You may receive a physical paper copy of this contract by contacting us at help@hsionline.com.

Privacy Policy

Please read our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy, these Terms shall control.

Contact Us

You may contact us by telephone at 1-888-213-0764 or by email at help@hsionline.com.