Q: I’ve been reading a lot lately about claims that vitamins in pill form are worthless and unreliable. Do you have a recommendation for where to buy worthy vitamin pills?

Answer: We don’t make endorsements, but we can offer advice for choosing supplements wisely.supplement bottle

It’s important to remember that supplements are not always necessary and they are not regulated as rigorously as drugs, so it is largely up to consumers to determine a product’s appropriateness, safety and potency.

Below we offer some concrete tips. Continue reading Q: I’ve been reading a lot lately about claims that vitamins in pill form are worthless and unreliable. Do you have a recommendation for where to buy worthy vitamin pills?

Millions of People with Metabolic Syndrome May Need More Vitamin E

Research Also Uncovers a New, Better Way to Test for Vitamin E

Almonds are a good source of vitamin E. Photo courtesy of healthaliciousness.com.

New research from Linus Pauling Institute Principal Investigator and Ava Helen Pauling Professor Maret Traber, Ph.D., has shown that people with metabolic syndrome need significantly more vitamin E – which could be a serious public health concern, in light of the millions of people who have this condition that’s often related to obesity. Continue reading Millions of People with Metabolic Syndrome May Need More Vitamin E

A Reason to Ask for Seconds of Broccoli?

cruciferous vegetables
Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Notable research from this year may steer you toward bringing a heaping dish of cruciferous vegetables to your next holiday meal. Continue reading A Reason to Ask for Seconds of Broccoli?

Q: I’m in my 50s.  Should I consider taking a lipoic acid supplement?

Answer: Perhaps, but it is good to know more about it first.

Lipoic acid is a naturally-occurring compound that is found in small amounts in food and is also synthesized in small amounts by humans. The amount of lipoic acid available in dietary supplements (200-600 mg) is likely as much as 1,000 times greater than the amount that could be obtained from the diet alone. Continue reading Q: I’m in my 50s.  Should I consider taking a lipoic acid supplement?