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Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

• Herbs / Herbal Supplements

• • Saw Palmetto

    From Wikipedia.org: Saw palmetto extract is an extract of the fruit of Serenoa repens. It is rich in fatty acids and phytosterols, and has shown promise in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. See the conclusion at this study -- "...the evidence suggests that S repens improves urologic symptoms and flow measures."
    
    In 2005, a long-term, placebo-controlled trial showed that a combination of saw palmetto fruit and nettle root extracts were effective in treating urinary tract symptoms in older men (Source). However, in February 2006, a large, blinded placebo-controlled study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed no reduction of symptoms from enlarged prostate by taking saw palmetto, as compared to placebo (source).

• Minerals

• • Calcium and Magnesium

    Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. Magnesium occurs typically as the Mg2+ ion. It is an essential mineral nutrient for life and is present in every cell type in every organism.
    
    61% of the US population do not meet the US RDA for levels of magnesium (http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=11043)
    
    Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Over 99% of calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. Calcium is needed for blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, muscle contraction, and sending central nervous system messages. See the NIH Calcium Fact Sheet for more information and references.

  • Iron

    From Wikipedia.org: Iron supplements are used in medicine to treat iron-deficiency anemia. Iron forms an insoluble complex with several other drugs, resulting in decreased absorption of both iron and the other drug. Absorption of iron is better at a low pH (an acid environment), and resorption is decreased if there is a simultaneous intake of antacids, phosphates, etc. Tannins from foods, such as tea and saw palmetto, reduce absorption of iron. Taken after a meal, there are fewer side effects but there is also less absorption because of interaction and pH alteration. Generally, an interval of 2-3h between the iron intake and that of other drugs seems advisable.

  • Vanadyl Sulfate

    Vanadyl(IV) sulfate, VOSO4, is a blue crystalline solid. It is also used in conjunction with chromium picolinate in a sugar blocker. Here it is said to improve blood sugar levels, and thereby increase energy, although these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

    Some studies show that Oral vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7769096

• Multivitamins

  From Wikipedia.org: By supplementing the diet with additional vitamins and minerals, multivitamins can be a valuable tool for those with dietary imbalances or different nutritional needs. People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who can't or won't eat a nutritious diet. Pregnant women and elderly adults have different nutritional needs than other adults, and a multivitamin may be indicated by their physicians.
  
  Multivitamins in large quantities may pose a risk of an acute overdose, due to the toxicity of some components, principally iron. However, in contrast to iron tablets, which can be lethal to children, toxicity from overdoses of multivitamins are very rare.
  
  Anyone without a pristine diet should be on multivitamins. However, since most of these do not have a great amount of magnesium or calcium, essential minerals to the body, additional supplementation of those are recommended as well.

• • Extreme Multivitamins

    From Wikipedia.org: By supplementing the diet with additional vitamins and minerals, multivitamins can be a valuable tool for those with dietary imbalances or different nutritional needs. People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who can't or won't eat a nutritious diet.
    
    This group of vitamins is meant for serious bodybuilders and athletes who have strenous lifestyles and require many more nutrients than the average person. These vitamins often come in packs and contain well over the typical recommended daily allowances.
    
    Anyone without a pristine diet should be on multivitamins. However, since most of these do not have a great amount of magnesium or calcium, essential minerals to the body, additional supplementation of those are recommended as well.

  • General Multivitamins

    From Wikipedia.org: By supplementing the diet with additional vitamins and minerals, multivitamins can be a valuable tool for those with dietary imbalances or different nutritional needs. People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who can't or won't eat a nutritious diet. Men have different needs, and men's multivitamins may be adjusted for more zinc and magnesium, for instance.
    
    Anyone without a pristine diet should be on multivitamins. However, since most of these do not have a great amount of magnesium or calcium, essential minerals to the body, additional supplementation of those are recommended as well.

  • Multivitamins For Children

    From Wikipedia.org: By supplementing the diet with additional vitamins and minerals, multivitamins can be a valuable tool for those with dietary imbalances or different nutritional needs. People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who can't or won't eat a nutritious diet. Children have different needs, and their multivitamins may be adjusted for smaller doses less iron, for instance.
    
    Anyone without a pristine diet should be on multivitamins. However, since most of these do not have a great amount of magnesium or calcium, essential minerals to the body, additional supplementation of those are recommended as well.

  • Multivitamins For Women

    From Wikipedia.org: By supplementing the diet with additional vitamins and minerals, multivitamins can be a valuable tool for those with dietary imbalances or different nutritional needs. People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who can't or won't eat a nutritious diet. Women have different needs, and their vitamins may be adjusted for more antioxidants and E vitamins, for instance.
    
    Anyone without a pristine diet should be on multivitamins. However, since most of these do not have a great amount of magnesium or calcium, essential minerals to the body, additional supplementation of those are recommended as well.

• Single Vitamins

  This category contains pills which have one or two vitamins in a higher potency.

• • Vitamin A

    Vitamin A plays a role in a variety of functions throughout the body, such as:
    Vision, Gene Transcription, Immune Function, Embryonic Development and Reproduction, Bone Metabolism, Haematopoiesis, Skin Health, Reducing Risk of Heart Disease and Cancer, and Antioxidant Activity
    
    For more information and dietary requirements, see Wikipedia

  • Vitamin B

    From Wikipedia.org: The B vitamins are eight water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. Historically, the B vitamins were once thought to be a single vitamin. Later research showed that they are chemically distinct vitamins. Supplements containing all eight are generally referred to as a vitamin B complex.

  • • Vitamin B-1 - Thiamine

      Thiamine is one of only four nutrients associated with a pandemic human deficiency disease. It is essential for neural function and carbohydrate metabolism. Thiamin deficiency results in beriberi, a disease characterized by a bewildering variety of symptoms.

    • Vitamin B-12

      From Wikipedia.org: Vitamin B-12 is one of eight B vitamins which is important for the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and for the formation of blood. It is normally involved in the metabolism of every cell of the body, especially affecting DNA synthesis and regulation, but also fatty acid synthesis and energy production.

    • Vitamin B-2 - Riboflavin

      From Wikipedia.org: Riboflavin (E101), also known as vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed micronutrient with a key role in maintaining health in humans and animals. Vitamin B2 is required for a wide variety of cellular processes. Like the other B vitamins, it plays a key role in energy metabolism, and is required for the metabolism of fats, ketone bodies, carbohydrates, and proteins.

    • Vitamin B-3 - Niacinamide/Niacin

      Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the deficiency disease pellagra. Niacin is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. It is also used to lower the risk of heart attack in people with high cholesterol who have already had a heart attack. It is also sometimes used to treat coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis).

    • Vitamin B-5 - Pantothenic Acid

      From UMM.edu: Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, is one of eight water-soluble B vitamins. In addition to playing a role in the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates for energy, Vitamin B5 is critical to the manufacture of red blood cells as well as sex and stress-related hormones produced in the adrenal glands. Vitamin B5 is also important in maintaining a healthy digestive tract and it helps the body use other vitamins (particularly B2 [riboflavin]) more effectively. It is sometimes referred to as the "anti-stress" vitamin because it is believed to enhance the activity of the immune system and improve the body's ability to withstand stressful conditions.

    • Vitamin B-6 - Pyridoxine

      From Wikipedia: The primary role of vitamin B6 is to act as a coenzyme to many other enzymes in the body that are involved predominantly in metabolism. This role is performed by the active form, pyridoxal phosphate. This active form is converted from the two other natural forms founds in food: pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine.
      
      Vitamin B6 is involved in the following metabolic processes: Amino acid, glucose and lipid metabolism; neurotransmitter synthesis; histamine synthesis; hemoglobin synthesis and function; gene expression

  • Vitamin C

    From NIH.gov: Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development. It is required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is essential for the healing of wounds, and for the repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.
    
    Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Vitamin E and beta-carotene are two other well-known antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage caused by free radicals, which are by-products that result when our bodies transform food into energy.
    
    The body does not manufacture vitamin C on its own, nor does it store it. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet.

  • Vitamin D

    Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D's major biologic function is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. It promotes bone mineralization in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, soft, or misshapen. Vitamin D prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults -- skeletal diseases that result in defects that weaken bones.

  • Vitamin E

    From NIH.gov: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects body tissue from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. They are believed to play a role in certain conditions associated with aging.
    
    Vitamin E is also important in the formation of red blood cells and helps the body to use vitamin K. The ability of vitamin E to prevent cancer, heart disease, dementia, liver disease, and stroke are still not known. At lower levels, vitamin E may help protect the heart.

  • Vitamin K

    Vitamin K is a fat-soluable vitamin that is required for blood clotting. Some studies indicate that it helps in maintaining strong bones in the elderly.