The recently released 'scientific paper' from Copenhagen University, Denmark, on the potential harm of vitamin supplementation (antioxidants or anti-oxidants) was very badly reported in the media (links listed below). It was made out to demonstrate that taking vitamins was a sure way to an earlier death (premature death). This was a very unscientific and headline-grabbing conclusion to draw from the paper. The main findings of the paper were that overdoses of vitamin A can do damage.

In some cases, vitamin supplementation can indeed be dangerous. It has been known for DECADES that overdosing of Vitamin A can be dangerous, so no big revelation there. Tell us something new.

Vitamins can form part of a holistic medical programme, for humans and animals. My experience, of course, is in the veterinary field.

It has to be sensible to practise moderation in diet and taking ANYTHING to excess is unwise. Vitamin supplementation, as part of a properly designed regime, can be vital to health. However, no better nutrition exists than a good and varied diet, eating fresh wholesome species-suitable food, preferably organic, with plenty of variety and moderation. If the diet has been unbalanced, over a period, supplementation (with NATURAL-source vitamins) is ESSENTIAL.

Manufactured vitamins may not be all they're cracked up to be. The manufacturing process may also involve the inclusion of species-unsuitable material (e.g. gelatin for horses). It is sad that the study apparently made no attempt to distinguish between naturally-sourced vitamins and their manufactured analogues.

If only science were presented in a scientific way and if only it could cover a subject completely, instead of taking parts in isolation. If only eye-catching and potentially seriously misleading headlines were not a feature of the handling of such issues by our media. Simple truth, integrity and objectivity are not common commodities.

The massive vitamin supplement market (about £150 million in the UK) is viewed with envious eyes by the pharmaceutical industry.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-04/17/content_6623153.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/04/16/scivita116.xml

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article3614642.ece

A detailed and objective report of the study can be found at:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article3614642.ece

It comes up with very low-key conclusions. In most cases, results only just reached statistical significance and it was mainly Vitamin A or similar compounds that were singled out - a far cry from the scary headlines. It's conclusions are:

"People take supplements for a wide range of reasons from believing they may be of benefit to treat a certain condition or just to supplement the diet as part of a healthy lifestyle approach. Although this review does provide some evidence of potential harm from taking certain supplements at the doses tested, there may be benefits of lower doses of supplements in certain selected groups."

The best nutrition advice I can offer is what I have long advocated - feed a good, fresh and varied species-suitable diet and don't buy manufactured vitamins. Be suspicious of glossy and vigorous marketing of any 'health' product. If a diet has been unsatisfactory or if there appear to be health indications for vitamin supplementation, seek holistic veterinary advice on the way forward for supplementation with natural-source vitamins.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]