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
Last week, many in the nutrition and medical fields let out a collective sigh. That’s because there is good quality nutrition research, from actual humans in randomized control trials, showing the importance of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Taking a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid (the form of folate found in most supplements) can prevent birth defects associated with the brain and spinal cord. And organizations like the March of Dimes have done a good job getting the word out about folic acid to women of childbearing age. The FDA even just announced it would allow corn flour to be fortified with folic acid, in order to prevent birth defects among women who eat corn as a staple in their diet.
Need a supplement?
Any trip to a grocery or health food store can tell you that there are lot of different supplements out there. Finding one that suits your needs is not always an easy task. Brands, formulations, doses, and health claims on the label can leave people baffled.
What makes matters worse is the possibility that what is listed on a supplement label might be completely different than what is actually inside the bottle. Continue reading
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