Sound off: for supplements

A report by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has good news for people spending money at their favorite health food stores--nutritional supplements actually work. After reviewing a decade's worth of the most scientifically significant studies on the health benefits of vitamins and minerals, Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., CRN vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, concluded that the ongoing use of multivitamins (preferably with minerals) and other single-nutrient supplements (e.g., calcium or folic acid) demonstrated quantifiable positive impact in areas ranging from strengthening the immune system of highly vulnerable elderly patients to drastically reducing the risk of neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida.

"The medical and scientific communities are rapidly accumulating powerful evidence about the role of nutritional supplements in both health promotion and disease prevention. There is compelling evidence that consistent, long-term use provides the strongest benefits," says Dickinson. "This growing critical mass of data underscores the need for health professionals to encourage patients to get into a regular, defined routine of supplementation. For as little as a dime a day, the cost of a basic multivitamin, you can make a sound investment in good health."

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