The United Nations Food Commission Takes Anti-vitamin Supplement Stance; Ignores Science and Widespread Prevalence of Deficiencies
WHO Food Safety director tell CODEX delegates that mega-dose vitamin pills are potentially toxic
San Dimas, CA (PRWEB) July 14, 2005 -- In a major step backwards, a
spokesperson for the World Health Organization, speaking before the Codex
Alimentarius Commission in Rome (the United Nations body which sets food
standards) warned against high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements, claiming a
balanced diet is sufficient and that high-dose supplements are potentially
toxic.
Jorgen Schlundt, executive director of the WHO Food Safety
Department, made these unsubstantiated claims in the face of numerous scientific
reports that show billions of people across the globe face vitamin and mineral
deficiencies that cannot be remedied thru dietary measures.
"There
simply is no way a person, especially a dark-skinned individual living in a
northern climate, can obtain sufficient amounts of vitamin D from sunlight
exposure or the best diet to prevent common vitamin D-related deficiency
diseases such as osteoporosis, rickets, hyperthyroid, cancer, autoimmunity or
high blood pressure," says health advocate Bill Sardi, president of Knowledge of
Health, Inc., San Dimas, CA. "Nor can fertile females consume sufficient amounts
of folic acid, even from fortified foods, to optimally reduce the risk for birth
defects in their offspring."
Virtually all 6 billion humans on the
planet are vitamin C deficient if compared to most animals that synthesize their
own vitamin C. For comparison, a goat, which is about the same weight as a
human, produces up to 13,000 milligrams a day. Humans produce no vitamin C
internally and must totally rely upon foods for this essential nutrient.
Americans consume only about 110 milligrams of vitamin C per day. Due to a
genetic mutation that occurred long ago, humans do not synthesize vitamin C as
animals do.
A few years ago the American Medical Association, in
recognition of widespread nutrient shortages among Americans even when consuming
fortified foods, recommended multivitamins for all adults. The WHO
recommendation runs contrary to the best scientific studies conducted over the
past 50 years.
Various flawed research studies, published in peer
reviewed journals, mistakenly claim high-dose vitamin C, beta carotene and folic
acid could induce gene mutations or cause cancer. Unfortunately, factitious
reports like these are never withdrawn or corrected, are often cited by health
authorities and will likely be used to establish upper limits in vitamin pills.
A review of eight years of data produced by the Poison Control Centers
of America reveals no deaths from the use of multivitamins. Minor side effects
such as temporary diarrhea from excessive vitamin C, loose stool from high-dose
magnesium, finger-tingling from mega-dose vitamin B6, and flushing from niacin,
are reversible and should not be characterized as toxic reactions, says
Sardi.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb260837.htm