Do I Need a Multivitamin?
Around the time I graduated from medical school in the early 2000s, there was a growing awareness of soil depletion and decreasing nutrients in our food supply. 911 had just happened, GMO foods were being introduced, and there were suspicions of long-term problems around 30 years of spraying glyphosate (Roundup). A 2004 study of “43 garden crops grown in the United States between 1950 and 1999, revealed that during this 50-year period, the nutrient density of these foods suffered declines between 6-30%” (credit Thorne Research.)
Despite being a food-first physician, I have come to believe that nutrition from food just isn’t enough. Evidence suggests that a majority of Americans do not have adequate Vitamin D or magnesium levels, leading to a number of health problems including mood issues (particularly in winter) and heart/muscular performance issues, especially in athletes.
So how do we know what nutrients we need, and what’s the best way to supplement them?
These days, testing the big picture of your nutritional status is straight forward and accessible via comprehensive laboratory testing. At my office, this includes test selection, blood draw services, interpretation of the results and implementation of natural treatments.
Some companies claim that food-based vitamins are the best. They usually claim that they are concentrating food, but they may also be concentrating heavy metals or pesticides, especially if the company does not follow GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) or does not independently test for levels/contaminants through a 3rd party laboratory. Additionally, many nutrient levels in these supplements are not disclosed, or may be extracted in an unsuitable form, such as the way that B vitamins are typically extracted from yeast and cause reactivity in certain people. Finally, the term synthetic may actually be superior for absorption, such as methylated forms of folate and Vitamin B-12 which are created in a lab, and considered highly absorbable, active forms of these nutrients.
The word multivitamin can be misleading. I have seen a very reputable company use this term for a supplement that does not have any minerals, which I consider essential in any supplement designed to cover your nutritional bases. Dickson Thom, ND, one of the longest standing doctors in my profession in his 70s (it is estimated he has taught over 60% of naturopathic doctors in practice today), suggests that most Americans are low in minerals, and that this restoring levels should be a therapeutic goal. I agree.
I strive to offer a comprehensive approach to your health, including high-quality supplements that are affordable, easy to obtain and most important, effective at helping you achieve your potential. When you’re ready for a doctor who puts the big picture together for you and helps you achieve your goals naturally using time-tested methods, give me a call. I’m here to help.
Dr. Lepisto
(970) 250-4104
