05.03.10
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington, D.C., responded to a controversial article that appeared in the April 2010 issue of Reader’s Digest. Douglas MacKay, ND, vice president, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, said that while the article suggests vitamins may not be worth taking, strong science demonstrates otherwise. “The reality is that vitamins and other dietary supplements play an important role—along with other smart choices such as healthy diet and exercise—in helping promote and maintain overall health and wellness,” he said. “In addition, vitamins can be valuable for a host of other reasons, including some of the areas discussed in this article, such as filling nutrient gaps, helping prevent neural tube birth defects, supporting heart health and more.” He went on to say that the article cherry-picked through scientific literature to come to its conclusions.