VITAMIN AND MINERAL TABLETS THE HIDDEN DANGERS

To many people the word "natural" means, not artificial, innate in nature. However to the time honored practices of the food and drug industry, "natural" food supplements contain a frightful list of synthetic and more often then not toxic fillers. According to the labeling laws if there is just 10% of anything in the product being manufactured that is natural the label can read "natural", and if it’s in a tablet, chances are about 100% that there are harmful fillers in it.

With very few exceptions, substances like vitamins, minerals, herbs or amino acids do not possess the necessary attributes to allow them to be compressed directly without the addition of binders, dilutents, desolvers, coloring and flavoring agents.

The larger the tablet, the more binders are used, like hydrogenated oils (calcium or magnesium stearate). Ethyl, methyl binders are invariably used with the smaller tablets, and the time released tablets are the worst yet because they usually require the addition of 400 mg. of hydrogenated oil (margarine/plastic butter) to each tablet. The oil is what causes the delayed release of the nutrient, but the side effects of the oil are more harmful then the good the nutrient is able to do. Supplements in a vegetable based tablet, capsule or powder are not subject to the same requirements and are not likely to contain toxic additives.

Most healthy people will have no side effects from taking small amount of toxins found in the over the counter vitamins, minerals, herbs etc., but the long term effects of the continuous, daily intake are potentially hazardous. There are a small percent of people taking vitamins that exhibit a sensitivity to these chemical binders, however the greater population does not show immediate reactions. Some of the allergic reactions that show up are symptoms like fatigue, memory loss, depression, anxiety, nonspecific dermititis, hives, hallucinations and insomnia.

The list below are some of the most commonly used binders and fillers used in drugs, vitamins, minerals and other tabulated products on the market. (From 1992 Excipient Usage In Marketed Drugs).

Magnesium Stearate	Talc
Lactose	Sucrose
Starch	Povidone
Microcrystalline	Pregelatinized Starch
Cellulose	Hydroxy Propyl Methycellulose
Silicon Dioxide	Calcium phosphate
Titanium Dioxide	Hydroxy Propyl Cellulose
Stearic Acid	Ethylcellulose
Sodium Starch Glycolate	Calcium Stearate

Things to be aware of when purchasing nutritional supplements for you and your family:

PROPYLENE GLYCOL-well know anti-freeze used in products for windshield washer fluid, brake and hydraulic fluid. Not only used in nutrients, but in cosmetics, deodorants, shampoos and lotions as well. This product has been documented as causing liver and kidney damage.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) AND SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES)- are used for detergent and foaming abilities. These are found in garage floor cleaners, car wash soap and engine degreasers. This extremely harmful ingredient is found in personal care products like shampoo. These additives react with the ingredients of over the counter food supplements as well as cosmetics to form carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins, all of which may enter the circulation with shampooing or oral ingestion. SLS can be stored in the liver, heart, eyes, kidneys and muscles for several years after use and has been know to cause skin rashes, dandruff, hair loss, eye irritations, and allergic reactions.

Other hazardous substances found as fillers in vitamin and mineral supplements are:

SODIUM BENZOATE	TITANIUM DIOXIDE
BHT	POLYSORBATE 80
BHA	MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE
TARTRAZINE	RED DYE 33 AND 40
LACTOSE	ETHYL CELLULOSE
PEANUT OIL	HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL
SORBIC ACID	FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL
FRACTIONATED CORNSTARCH

Al Czap, (Towensend Letter for Doctors, November 1984/Issue #21) reports that there may be long term dangerous effects of taking such chemical fillers on a regular basis (vitamin, minerals, herbs etc.) including coronary artery disease. Not only the above named products but some alkanes (paraffin or wax) have been found deposited in the plaque of individuals suffering from coronary artery disease. People who use large numbers of vitamin and mineral tablets may actually be contributing to the diseases they think they are trying to prevent.

Given all this information, you’re probably wondering what to do. First, the best thing would be to purchase supplements in vegetable capsules, or naturally compressed tablets, preferably with photochemically-bound products, also liquids or powders that have the smallest amount of additives. And please be aware that it is not the law that manufacturers have to give full disclosure of all the ingredients on the label. However it is your right to request full disclosure before purchasing any food supplement and receive it from the manufacturer, even if purchased in a health food store.

We have the kind of products mentioned above available for purchase (see Product List) . All our products are photochemically bound and naturally compressed without any fillers used in the processing. These products are not available at any stores due to the fact that the company only wants Doctors distributing and monitoring them.