Is a Natural Supplement a Superior Source of Vitamins and other Nutrients?

If you read health magazines or newsletters regularly, chances are you’ve heard about the debate that rages over synthetic vs. natural vitamin supplements. Depending on who you talk to, synthetic supplements are either perfectly OK, completely inadequate, or dangerous and harmful! How can they be all three? Can’t a definitive answer be found?

When faced with conflicting information from equally reliable sources, how do you know what to believe? If you’ve done some research and truly can’t decide whether a synthetic or natural vitamin supplement is best, what can you do to solve the dilemma? Try taking matters into your own hands, trust your best judgment, and keep an open mind. Let common sense guide you in developing your own solution.

The Number One Source of Nutrients

Nobody seems to disagree that consuming natural foods is the best way to get your vitamins. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet that features a variety of foods should be our first and foremost goal. Some experts claim our food is not nearly as nutritious as it used to be due to deteriorating agricultural practices and conditions. Even so, eating a mostly vegetarian, low-fat, high-fiber diet is likely to yield the majority of the nutrients our bodies require.

Assume healthy eating is providing most of the nutrients your body needs. How likely is it then that your body absorbs 100% of the vitamins and minerals available via your supplement? Is it likely to think 50% could be absorbed? While a nutritionist or your doctor is best qualified to answer this question after analyzing your diet, it’s suggested that as little as 15% of the nutrients contained in vitamin supplements is absorbed by healthy eaters. If you eat well, chances are you could and do function with only partial absorption from supplements, regardless of whether they’re synthetic or natural.

The Best of Both Worlds

Why not just take a natural vitamin supplement and err on the side of caution? If you find a quality natural vitamin supplement that is cost effective to take, this option might be your best choice. Nobody seems to disagree that quality “natural” vitamins are well absorbed. Or, if you’re interested in saving on the higher cost of natural varieties, why not alternate your daily supplement? Taking a less expensive, synthetic vitamin one day and a natural supplement the next could give you the best of both worlds. If you are eating a nutritious diet, even a reduced amount of absorption every other day should provide you with adequate levels of key vitamins and minerals.

The truth is, nothing indicates definitively that any vitamin supplement is necessary for optimum health. Research has shown that deficiencies can occur. But deficiencies are relatively uncommon except in poverty stricken areas for the majority of individuals. Studies merely suggest that vitamin and mineral supplements may help us avoid ill health, certain diseases and medical conditions long term. Until we know the precise health benefits supplements have to offer, the debate over sources and absorption rates is perhaps more moot than meaningful.