" We need silence to be able to touch souls" - Mother Teresa
Have you ever just sat in silence ? Have you ever meditated on your life? Last night while sitting in the living room as the snow fell from the sky, we listened to sounds, played the singing bowl and sat in silence. It was a moment we haven't had in a long time. I usually like the den, but there was something peaceful about the living room.
Try sitting in silence. We all need a bit of silence every once in a while
Multivitamin consumption is practiced by a large portion of US adults, and although vitamins are taken to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiency, there is a perception that daily usage may prevent the development of major morbidity and mortality, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). I have been using a multivitamin myself for years. I also prescribe a multi vitamin to my patients. There have been studies on mutli vitamins in the past. While some studies have produced inconsistent evidence of the effects of daily multivitamin use, there are no long-term clinical trials that have provided conclusive evidence regarding the long term effects of daily multivitamin usage on cardiovascular health.
Finally a large study was published in JAMA - Journal American Medical Association. This study, The Physicians’ Health Study II, enlisted 14,641 male physicians in the United States who were age 50 years or older, is the largest scale clinical trial to date examining the daily use of multivitamins and cardiovascular disease. Most of the patients were Caucasian, and half of them took a daily multivitamin. The other half took placebo daily. Think about this -- What is the multi vitamin used ? I DO NOT KNOW. I would like to know which multi vitamin the AMA considers adequate. Is it the Vitamin Shop brand, GNC, Dr Weil's multivitamin, or Solgar VM ? Would they consider a multi vitamin that has been recommended by Dr Oz, Dr. Jonathan Wright or Dr Weil ? The study states Centrum Silver. I was shocked. Then I read thatr Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company produced this multivitamin. To me, this is nto an adequate vitamin.
I have never prescribed a multi based on prevention of cardiovascular disease. There are many other nutraceuticals/ supplements/vitamins/herbs that have benefit for prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Dr Howard Sesso, MPH, lead researcher and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, stated this
“Multivitamins are the most common supplements taken by at least one-third of all US adults, and while they are typically used to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiency, there is an unproven belief that they may have benefits on other chronic diseases, including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death”,
The physician participants in the study were followed for an average of 11.2 years to determine if the daily consumption of multivitamins affected the occurrence of a heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular events. Study participants experienced more than 1,700 major cardiovascular disease events during trial follow up, leading investigators to conclude that taking a daily vitamin did not reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, or cardiovascular death. Again what other vitamins, what was their diet, and WHAT IS THE MULTI VITAMIN USED ? I read it was CENTRUM SILVER
According to Dr Michael Graziano, MPH, chief of the Division of Aging at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the co-author of this study stated this :
“The majority of the men in our trial appeared to have, on average, good dietary habits. It’s not certain whether the findings would extend to younger men, women, and other racial and ethnic groups"
Again I have no problems with the number and follow-up. I have a problem with " Good dietary habits." in most men, but more so among physicians. I see as patients other physicians. Physicians are unique as patients. We all give great advice, but do we follow our own advice ? I think not. I know personally I sometimes want what I want - a good piece of bread etc. We are humans after all.
I want to know the details of this study before stating a Multi Vitamin is useless.
Until tomorrow....
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