Essential Facts about Vitamin Supplements by Dr. Murray Susser

Welcome to the New Year!  Here is information that can help you make it a healthy one!
 

FIVE ESSENTIAL FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS
Dear Friends,
    
     Vitamin supplement ads are everywhere.  Possibly due to the popularity of processed and fast foods today, many doctors are less apt to recommend only a "healthy" diet in order to acquire the nutrients their patients require.

     I am an advocate of the appropriate use of supplements, but I am alarmed at how these are touted as being good for everyone.  The type and amount of supplements depend upon the individual patient's needs.

            
     Decades ago, early in my practice, I started adding nutritional supplements to my array of medical tools. Wilfred Shute's book about Vitamin E for ailing and healthy hearts inspired me to begin prescribing Vitamin E in large doses to treat various forms of venous and arterial disease.

    But something was wrong. It puzzled me that the effect of the Vitamin E upon my patients was inconsistent.

    Around that time I read an article about an upper state New York biochemist who was also a nun. She bought every brand of Vitamin E she could acquire and checked for their chemical potency. In the testing she discovered that while some were labeled at 400 units, none exceeded 100 units. One brand had as few as 7 units!

     Just because a bottle is labeled as being 400 units of "Vitamin E", there is no guarantee of its concentration or potency.  


FRESH AND FULL POTENCY 
HOW TO BE CERTAIN

    Here are five facts you should know before you begin taking any supplements.

     1. It's not that one expects vitamin manufacturers to hold to pharmaceutical drug standards. But present laws need to be enforced to require that labels provide accurate information.

     2. Doctors who prescribe nutrients should be aware of the individual patient's health and any prescriptions.  This is why I always listen to my patient and ask questions about present and past health issues and concerns.  Then I order a blood test looking for specific deficiencies and put together a vitamin and supplement program designed for that individual.

    3.  Doctors prescribing supplements need to know the reliable manufacturers and compounders. Mine are of the highest order.

    4. Big Box stores can have potential freshness and potency problems. Supplements may be sitting on a loading dock or store shelf for long periods and potentially lose potency.  Fish oil and similar oil supplements are especially vulnerable as the oil becomes rancid. 

    5. Both doctor and patient must watch for the results of vitamin therapy and assess if the type and dosage are appropriate.

    As a  medical doctor who has worked in the area of vitamin supplement therapies for decades, I request chemical assays and organic status from each of my manufacturers. 

   Vitamin Therapy serves as a powerful element in my treatment armory. You have read up to this point and demonstrated your interest and concern. So mention this newsletter for your ten per cent discount when you consult with me in order to discover your own particular regimen which will enhance your health and well being.
 
                   With your good health always in mind,
                   Murray Susser M.D.


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Murray Susser, MD - (310) 479-8909 - E-mailWebsite

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