Vitamins
A vitamin is an organic (carbon-containing) compound necessary for normal physiological function that cannot be synthesized in adequate amounts, and must therefore be obtained in the diet. The term vitamin is formed from the words vital and amine, because vitamins are required for life and were at one time thought to be amines. Although not all vitamins are amines, they are organic compounds required by humans in small amounts. An organic compound is considered a vitamin if a lack of that compound in the diet results in symptoms of deficiency.
Harvard University researchers, publishing their study results after a review of approximately 40 years’ worth of literature, reconfirmed that vitamin deficiencies are clearly associated with many diseases that are common to our society such as cancer, coronary heart disease and osteoporosis. Published June 19, 2002 in the highly respected Journal of the American Medical Association, these researchers conclude that Americans do not receive enough vitamins from their diet and should take a multivitamin supplement on a daily basis.
" . . . [I]nsufficient vitamin intake is apparently a cause of chronic diseases. Recent evidence has shown that suboptimal levels of vitamins, even well above those causing deficiency syndromes [e.g., scurvy, pellagra and beriberi], are risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. A large proportion of the general population is apparently at increased risk for this reason. . . . The high prevalence of suboptimal vitamin levels implies that the usual US diet provides an insufficient amount of these vitatmins. Fruits and vegetables are the main dietary source of many vitamins, and health experts have long recommended at least 5 daily servings. A recent survey showed that only 20% to 30% of the population actually meet this goal. . . . We recommend that all adults take one multivitamin daily." Robert H. Fletcher, MD, MSc; Kathleen M. Fairfield, MD, Dr PH JAMA, "Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults" 2002;287:3127-3129. [brackets added]
Daily vitamin and mineral supplements have also been demonstrated to reduce the number and severity of infections that are experienced by those who regularly take such supplements. This association was especially striking in persons with type 2 diabetes, a group that is at particular risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. TA. Barringer, J.K. Kirk, A.C. Santaniello, K.L. Foley and R. Micheielutte, Ann Intern Med. 2003: 138: 365-71, "Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Infection and Quality of Life. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial"
Discussing the intake of the 40 essential micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and other biochemicals that humans require) in the Journal of Nutrition, Bruce Ames, M.D. states, "[T]he prevention of more subtle metabolic damage may not be addressed by current [recommended dietary allowances]. When one input in the metabolic network is inadequate, repercussions are felt on a large number of systems and can lead to degenerative disease. This may, for example, result in an increase in DNA damage (and cancer), neuron decay (and cognitive dysfunction) or mitochondrial decay (and accelerated aging and degenerative diseases)." B.N. Ames, J. Nutr. 134: 1364S-3168S, 2004 "Supplements and Tuning Up Metabolism" [brackets added]
Vemma offers Vitamins A, C, D, E, B6 and B12 along with Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Biotin, Panothenic Acid and Selenium in each serving of the daily recommended dose. While Vitamin E, a key antioxidant vitamin, is generally poorly absorbed when taken alone (as many people take vitamins in the morning) and is much better absorbed when taken with dietary fats, recent research at the University of Scranton indicates that taking Vitamin E with whole leaf aloe vera greatly improved (almost doubled) the absorption of vitamin E and maintained plasma E concentrations for considerably longer time periods (up to 24 hours) when compared to consumption of vitamin E alone – the whole leaf aloe vera of Vemma thus greatly increases bioavailability of vitamin E.
The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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