Nutritional Supplements & Your Doctor

But when it comes to taking the advice they give to patients, do doctors practice what they preach? When it comes to taking dietary supplements, research shows they do. Not only do 79% of physicians recommend dietary supplements to their patients, 72% personally take dietary supplements* themselves. This means that doctors are part of the more than 150 million Americans who take dietary supplements each year. As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I have always recommended dietary supplements as an important part of a proactive wellness regimen that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and stress management. And as a husband and father of two growing children, I’ve also consistently incorporated these practices into their routines. In fact, my entire family uses this well-rounded approach to stay healthy and ensure we are getting all of the nutrition requirements to support optimal health.

Curious to know what supplements U.S. doctors are taking? A 2007 survey of doctors* showed that the top five dietary supplements taken by doctors are:

Multivitamin – taken by 87% of U.S. doctors

It is important to focus on getting your nutritional requirements from food. However, a multivitamin acts as an insurance policy to provide the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals that can be missed because we don’t always eat as well as we should. With busy work schedules and often busier family lives, even the most health conscious individuals may fall short in getting recommended amounts of several essential nutrients. A multivitamin will help fill in the nutrition gaps our diet may be missing and is a good investment for overall health.

Vitamin C – taken by 78% of U.S. doctors

Vitamin C is perhaps the most well known vitamin of all. What you may not know is that vitamin C deficiency was a major problem for early sea explorers which led to the realization that microscopic substances found in food were absolutely essential for human survival. Sailors at sea for long periods of time had no access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and therefore no vitamin C intake. A lack in vitamin C resulted in a debilitating condition known as scurvy. In 1746 a British naval surgeon discovered that scurvy could be prevented by having sailors drink lemon juice. Since then, scientists have discovered that vitamin C is an important antioxidant that protects the body from damaging free radicals and helps to maintain a healthy immune system. Vitamin C is also a required component of collagen, which is a substance the body uses to make connective tissues, such as tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.

Vitamin B Complex – taken by 63% of U.S. physicians

B vitamins are required for thousands of metabolic reactions in the body and support proper function of both the immune and nervous systems. B vitamins can actually be thought of as a “family” of vitamins. This family includes many important nutrients such as folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, B12 and others. Folic acid is especially important for women of child bearing age to take before and during pregnancy, as it plays a critical role in protecting against neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.

Vitamin D – taken by 59% of U.S. physicians

Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin because it is produced by the body through direct exposure with sunlight. However, long winters (with less sun exposure) coupled with the need for skin protection through the use of sun block and other sun-shielding methods, means much of the population is getting insufficient amounts of vitamin D. A growing body of evidence on vitamin D suggests the nutrient provides health benefits related to bone health and longevity, and may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. Ask your physician about getting your vitamin D levels tested to find out exactly how much of the sunshine vitamin you need.

Calcium – taken by 58% of U.S. physicians

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, particularly in the bones and the teeth where calcium is essential for maintaining the strength and integrity of these structures for a lifetime. Calcium prevents osteoporosis, a disease in which bone density is lost over time causing weak, brittle bones that are prone to fractures. Because calcium is found mostly in dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt, calcium supplementation is especially important for those who aren’t getting enough calcium through diet alone—particularly for those who are lactose intolerance, practice a vegan diet and who watch their calorie and/or fat intake. These groups will often fall short in the recommended 1,000 – 1,300 mg of calcium daily. Even parents with picky eaters at home should consider supplementing with calcium, but remember calcium is best absorbed when taken in combination with vitamin D.

No matter what supplement you’re taking or are thinking about taking, remember to include your healthcare professional in the discussion—chances are, they’re taking a supplement too!

*Life…supplemented 2007 Healthcare Professionals Impact Study