Take Those Vitamins!

Brittany Shammas

Corporate policies can be secretive, so knowing who to trust and where to look for information can be both challenging and confusing. Why, for example, in a country where even packets of salt have 1-800 numbers to call with “questions or concerns” is there no number on bottles of Multi-Vitamin Flavor Glides? 

Because some vitamins are not FDA approved, in purchasing vitamins, it is important to be a little cautious in how much a vitamin’s self-glorification is believed. While a couch-jumping Tom Cruise proclaims the depression curing potential of the vitamin, a bottle of Daily Multiple For Women’s boast of its contents as supporting “bone health, energy metabolism, immune system, and heart health” is followed by an asterisk indicating the statement “has not been evaluated by the FDA” and the vitamins are not “intended to . . . cure or prevent any disease”.

When asked why they take vitamins, students say that they are “good for you”, that they “keep you healthy”, that their “mom told them”. Studies from around the world proclaim a slew of benefits for each vitamin:

Vitamin A: better vision
Vitamin B: aids in blood cell production, sustains nervous system, reduces chances of birth defects
Vitamin C: may aid some with common cold prevention
Vitamin D: may protect against colon and breast cancer, aid in maintaining bone density, lower instances of elder’s falls

Each claim is based upon research studies conducted anywhere from Harvard University to The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, and are, in many cases, not one hundred percent guaranteed. At any rate, it is important to exercise caution in the amount taken- yes, you can OD on vitamins.

Vitamin C, which is commonly associated with strengthening the immune system, is beneficial to health until too much is taken, at which point a variety of unpleasant effects- diarrhea being one of them- result. Being a water- soluble protein, Vitamin C in excess is simply flushed out of the body- through methods of stomachaches, gas, cramps, and an increased likelihood of kidney stone development.

An Olin Health pharmacist said that while vitamins are very important for your health; the “best way to get the vitamins you need is through food”- fruits, vegetables, grains- and that for young and healthy college students, vitamins may not be necessary, “as long as they are eating healthily”.

With that in mind- ice cream and sprinkles with every meal! Waffles for dinner!- Continue yielding to your roommate’s daily demands of “Take your vitamins! Take your vitamins. Did you take your vitamins? You should take your vitamins.” And so I now turn to you, with the support of health nut roommates, possibly your own mother, and certainly Tom Cruise, to ask: have YOU taken YOUR vitamins?