The following is drawn from Nutritional Influences on Illness by Melvyn Werbach M.D. by Third Line Press, 1996 and the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements by Michael Murray, N.D. by Prima Publishing, 1996

1. Nutrients are essential components of enzymes and co-enzymes necessary for their function, such as the necessity of zinc for alcohol dehydrogenase that activates vitamin A, of the necessity of Vitamin C for proline hydroxylase, involved in collagen synthesis.

2. Over 100 million Americans take supplements.

3. The Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA), started in 1941, were intended to avoid severe nutrient deficiencies in groups of people, not individuals. Research confirms that the optimal intake for many nutrients, particularly anti-oxidants is much higher than the RDA.

4. Several studies have revealed that up to 58% of hospitalized patients have some degree of malnutrition(1,2)

1. Nutritional therapy saves lives, costs. Med World News February 24, 1986, p.99
2. S Kamath - reported in Am Med News May 24/31, 1985

5. Hospital diets may be nutritionally deficient.

1. Todd EA et al. What do patients eat in hospital? Hum Nutr Appl Nutr 38A: 294-97, 1984

6. Nursing home patients are frequently nutritionally deficient. Serum cholesterol and hemoglobin were the most sensitive nutritional indicators. The prevalence of protein-calorie undernutrition increased in direct proportion to degree of functional impairment, and to frequency of intercurrent infection.

1. Rudman D. Nutritional status of nursing home men. Abstract. J Am Coll Nutr 6(5): 420, 1987

7. Pregnant women are frequently nutritionally deficient (up to 78% in one study) including vitamin K deficiency.

1. Dostaolova L. Dev Pharmacol Ther 4 (Suppl): 45, 1982

8. The elderly frequently ingest inadequate amounts of certain nutrients including folate, cholecalciferol, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, zinc, niacin, potassium and magnesium.

1. Elsborg L, et al. The intake of vitamins and minerals by the elderly at home. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 54(3):321-29, 1983
2. Sempos CT et al. A dietary survey of 14 Wisconsin nursing homes. J Am Diet Assoc 81(1):35-40, 1982

9. In addition, the elderly are frequently nutritionally deficient including protein-calorie malnutrition, with thiamine, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, B12, amino acid and potassium deficiencies. Elderly patients were pyridoxine deficient.

1. Arora VD, Rudman D. Protein-calorie undernutrition in the nursing home. Geriatr Med Today 7(7):66, 1988
2. Keatinge AMB et al. Vitamin B1, B2, B6 and C status in the elderly. Ir Med J 76:488-490, 1983

10. In general, western diets are commonly insufficient in calcium, chromium, copper, folate, iodine, iron, magnesium, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, fiber and essential fatty acids.

1. NIH Consensus Conference: Osteoporosis. JAMA 252(6): 799-802, 1984
2. Anderson RA, Kozlovsky AS. Chromium intake, absorption and excretion of subjects consuming self-selected diets. Am J Clin Nutr 41:1177-83, 1985
3. Schoenemann HM et al. Consequences of severe copper deficiency are independent of dietary carbohydrate in young pigs. Am J Clin Nutr 52:147-54, 1990
4. Subar AF et al. Folate intake and food sources in the US population Am J Clin Nutr 50:508-16, 1989
5. Hetzel BS. Iodine-defiency disorders. Lancet 1:1386-87, 1988
6. Stoskman JA. Iron defiance anemia: Have we come far enough? JAMA 258:1645-47, 1987
7. Wester PO. Magnesium. Am J Clin Nutr 45(5 Suppl):1305-12, 1987
8. Tolonen M. Finnish studies on antioxidants with special reference to cancer, cardiovascular disease and aging. Int Clin Nutr Rev 9(2):68-75,1989
9. (NHANES II(Bendich A, Langseth L. Safety of vitamin A. Am J Clin Nutr 49:358-71, 1989
10. Kant AK, Block G. Dietary vitamin B6 intake and food sources in the US population: NHANES II, 1976-1980, Am J Clin Nutr 52:707-16, 1990
11. Elsborg L et al. The intake of vitamins and minerals by the elderly at home. Int J Vitamin Nutr Res 53:321-29, 1983
12. Murohy SP et al. Vitamin E intakes and sources in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr 52:361-67, 1990
13. Prasad AS. Role of zinc in human health. Contemp Nutr 16(5), 1991
14. National Research Council, Diet and Health. Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk. National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1989

11. Smoking, alcohol, food additives, heavy metals, carbon monoxide and other chemicals interfere with nutrient function.

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