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In our Spring supplements seminar the speakers discussed risk, deficiency and safety. Lyndon Gee introduced our speakers; Dr Carrie Ruxton, dietitician health writer and TV nutritionist, Dr Alan Stewart, a physician who has specialised in nutrition for over 25 years, and is co-author of Nutritional Medicine and other books and Professor David Richardson, bio-chemist and visiting professor at the Universities of Newcastle and Reading. 106 Dr Carrie Ruxton, has a PhD in Child Nutrition and has worked for a wide range of publications and organisations. She is particularly interested in vitamins and minerals, and sees their major role as reducing the risk of a nutritional deficiency in the population. “We are doing better, and dietary messages are starting to have an effect, but we’re not there yet,” said Dr Ruxton. Over 50 percent of women are at risk of a deficiency of selenium and about 20 percent of adults are below the recommended levels of iron (especially women and teenagers). “UK adults have very low levels of Vitamin D compared to EU recommendations,“ said Dr Ruxton. “By January and February a lot of adults have low levels of vitamin D in their blood, and most children are low in vitamin D. “ “Supplements don’t prevent disease on their own, and vitamins and minerals won’t work in isolation,” said Dr Ruxton. “However there is a continuing need for vitamin supplements, both as single supplements and multi-vitamins, as part of a whole diet approach, especially for those in at-risk groups. “One of the big issues regarding supplements is individual susceptibility and the safety of their long-term use,” said Dr Alan Stewart. In most cases, present usage gives minimal protection for the population of the UK due to poor intake. However, taking too much of a supplement may be as harmful as taking too little. A study carried out in Sweden and published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that elevated levels of vitamin A may be associated with an increased risk of bone fracture. Dr Stewart has produced a fascinating table on the major contraindications to the use of Nutritional Supplements. This covers the health problem, the number of people in the UK affected, supplements to be used cautiously or avoided, and comments and alternative preparations. It provides a fascinating guide to conditions and supplements. You can also find out more on this topic by going to the National Institutes of Health website:http//dietarysupplements.nim.nih.gov.dietary/ingred.jsp. Professor David Richardson, a founder member of the Council of the UK Joint Health Claims Initiative and DPR Nutrition Ltd chose a similar theme. “The really hot topics at the moment are the efficacy and safety of supplements, and how to set safe levels,” he said. The populations at risk in the UK include those aged 18 and under, also those aged 19-24, the elderly, people on restricted diets, and alcoholics and smokers. Dr Richardson explained that new legislation is ongoing at the moment, and the European Commission is expected to publish a discussion paper on the maximum and minimum amounts for vitamins and minerals in fortified foods and food supplements shortly. Question time showed how strongly we feel about this subject. Oliver Ghillie, a well-known campaigner on minerals and vitamins raised the topic of vitamin D, the vitamin you can’t get in enough quantities from your diet. He believes that you shouldn’t take multi-vitamins, and should go out in the sun to raise your levels. Dr Carrie Ruxton replied that multi-vitamins are the most cost-effective way of providing vitamins at RDA levels. Dr Alan Stewart said that for patients who won’t or can’t change their diets they often recommend a daily multi-vitamin. The debate ranged through Diabetes Type 2, and how reducing food intake to lose weight can make it harder to keep up a healthy intake. Dr Carrie Ruxton voiced her concerns that the levels of Omega 3 supplements will be set too low. Dr Carrie Ruxton PhD RD www.nutrition-communications.com carrie@nutrition-communications.com 07973 337757 Dr Alan Stewart MRCP www.stewartnutrition.co.uk 01273 487003 David P Richardson Bsc Msc PhD FIFST FRSM Rnutr DPR Nutrition Ltd Lesley Dobson
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