3. Are "natural" vitamins better than "synthetic" vitamins?
It depends. Old studies on vitamins C and B6 showed no difference or greater absorption from synthetic ones.
But fat-solubles are different. Natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) is more available to the body than synthetic vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol or all-rac-alpha-tocopherol).
"The body does judge them differently," says Carolyn Dean, M.D., a naturopathic doctor, wellness consultant and author of The Magnesium Miracle (Ballantine, 2006). In other words, the body has evolved to digest natural food, and so it can tell the difference between real and fake.
Dean recommends downing only food-based organic vitamins in order to make the best use of your vitamins.
©2007 Revolution Health Group, LLC.Labels: health, supplements |
