There is a lot of information available on the web and in the news media about nutritional supplements. Some of it suggests the supplements may not be very useful. In fact, some suggest it is a waste of money and effort to buy and take supplements. Sometimes, I agree.
More than once, I have told someone that rather than buy the vitamin available in the local supermarket – and sometimes in the health food store – they should instead take a $10 bill from their wallet, wad it up, put it in their mouth and swallow it. They will get the same value.
On the other hand, a medical grade supplement makes a huge difference. It’s all about the quality, the formulation, the ingredients. For example, if you read the label, you may see that some supplements have ingredients that can’t possibly provide any benefit. Zinc Oxide sounds impressive; it must have some value. But wait! Isn’t that the stuff you put on your nose to prevent sunburn while at the beach in the summer? How can your intestinal tract absorb that goo? It can’t.
Next time you read a label, see if the form of Vitamin B12 is listed. When it is, expect it to read ‘cyanocobalamin.’ B12 is cobalamin; it is joined to a molecule for transport in the body. Cyano – well, you can guess the molecule and it is not good. Hydroxy or methyl forms of cobalamin are better.
Medical grade supplements take this into account. All of my patients are provided access to an online supplier of medical grade supplements and are given a substantial discount over the retail price.