Health
Does everyone need to take vitamins — and which are most important? Here’s what to know
Advertisements and social media often suggest that vitamin supplements are important for optimal health — but are they really essential for everyone?
“Vitamins have become a multi-billion-dollar industry, with shelves full of supplements promising better health, more energy and a longer life,” Andrea Soares, a registered dietitian from Top Nutrition Coaching in Miami, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
Just over 57% of American adults took dietary supplements between 2017 and 2020, with multivitamins and minerals being the most popular, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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But what does this mean for you? Fox News Digital spoke to the experts to find out.
What is a vitamin?
Vitamins are nutrients that are essential for the body to function normally, according to Jennifer Messer, president of the New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a registered dietitian in New Hampshire.
“We cannot make vitamins in our bodies, and so we must get them in our diets,” she told Fox News Digital.
(The one exception is vitamin D, which people can also get from the sun.)
Vitamins are either fat-soluble or water-soluble, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E and K — are stored in the body’s fatty tissue, liver and muscles, so they are absorbed better when taken with fatty foods.
Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, so any excess amount is usually excreted in the urine.
Thirteen vitamins are considered “essential.”
These include vitamins A, C, D, E and K, as well as the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12 and folate), according to the NIH.
“For most people, a well-balanced diet is sufficient to meet daily vitamin needs,” Soares told Fox News Digital.
“For most people, a well-balanced diet is sufficient to meet daily vitamin needs.”
Vitamin A is easily obtained from eating a balanced diet, vitamin E is abundant in common foods, and most people get enough vitamin C if they eat fruits and vegetables like oranges, strawberries and bell peppers, she said.
Some people don’t get enough vitamins from dietary sources, however.
When are vitamin supplements necessary?
Certain vitamin deficiencies can potentially cause health problems.
“In the U.S., the FDA updated nutrition labels to reflect nutrients of public health concern due to deficiencies or inadequacies in the general population,” Messer told Fox News Digital.
Vitamin A helps maintain good eyesight, for example — and children who get an inadequate amount are at risk for blindness, according to the CDC.
As vitamin D supports bone health and immune function, people with limited sun exposure may be more prone to bone diseases like osteoporosis, research has shown.
“As of recent regulations, vitamin D is required on nutrition labels,” Messer noted.
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Vitamin B12 is essential for red blood cell production and nerve function, according to Soares.
Folate supports DNA synthesis and prevents neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain, spine or spinal cord), so it is important for women to get adequate amounts before and during early pregnancy, per the CDC.
It’s a common misconception, however, that vitamin supplements are beneficial for everyone, according to Messer.
“Technically, all vitamins are necessary — however, it is unnecessary to supplement a vitamin unless you are found to be deficient,” she said.
“An individual’s supplement requirements will vary based on medical conditions, dietary restrictions, malabsorption issues and nutrient deficiencies.”
“It is unnecessary to supplement a vitamin unless you are found to be deficient.”
Certain groups may have a greater need for vitamin supplements than others.
“While a vegan diet can fulfill many nutrient requirements, there are certain vitamins, such as vitamin B12 and vitamin D, that may need closer attention,” Messer said.
Health
Ellen DeGeneres has osteoporosis: Here's what to know about the painful bone condition
Longtime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres announced last week that she has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, as well as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
During her final Netflix special “For Your Consideration,” DeGeneres, 66, opened up about her triple diagnosis, noting that she took a bone density test recommended by her doctor and learned she had “full-on osteoporosis.”
“I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now. I’m like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower,” she told the audience.
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DeGeneres went on to admit that “it’s hard to be honest about aging and seem cool.”
“I had excruciating pain one day and I thought I tore a ligament or something, and I got an MRI, and they said, ‘No, it’s just arthritis.’ I said, ‘How did I get that?’ And he said, ‘Oh it just happens at your age,’” she said.
Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, board-certified spine surgeon at The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care in New Jersey, weighed in on DeGeneres’ diagnosis.
“Ellen still appears to have great posture and appears to be very active and healthy,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“Depending on the degree of osteoporosis she was diagnosed with, she has a great chance to have a normal life,” he went on.
“It’s important for her to be well-educated about the treatments and lifestyle modifications recommended by her doctor, and be a great patient by following those instructions.”
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a “bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes,” according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
The disease can lead to a decrease in bone strength, which can increase the risk of broken bones.
Nearly 20% of women aged 50 and older have osteoporosis, according to the CDC.
“Osteoporosis occurs when the body loses too much bone mass or doesn’t produce enough bone to maintain healthy density,” Okubadejo said.
This causes the bone to become weak or brittle.
“Although certain populations are more vulnerable to osteoporosis, it’s often associated with aging, hormonal changes associated with age, lifestyle factors or mineral/vitamin deficiencies,” added Okubadejo.
Osteoporosis can cause the bones to become so weak and brittle that a fall or even mild stress like coughing can cause a break, Mayo Clinic reported.
Nearly 20% of women aged 50 and older have osteoporosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms and risk factors
Early-stage bone loss typically does not show any symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic.
Once bones are weakened, that can lead to back pain, loss of height, stooped posture and easy bone breakage.
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Osteoporosis can occur in men and women alike, but Mayo Clinic specified that older white and Asian women who are past menopause have the highest risk.
Men and women with small body frames tend to be more susceptible, as they have “less bone mass to draw from as they age,” the clinic noted.
The condition is also more likely to occur in people who have hormone imbalances, have undergone gastrointestinal surgery, have low calcium intake or experience disordered eating, according to the same source.
Those with a family history of osteoporosis may also face a higher risk.
People who have taken corticosteroid medicines for conditions like seizures, gastric reflux, cancer and transplant rejection are more susceptible, as are those with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.
Health
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Health
What is ‘rhabdo,’ the life-threatening muscle injury that affected 12 college lacrosse players?
After a college lacrosse team reported that several players experienced a severe muscle injury, experts are speaking about the condition.
Tufts University in Massachusetts has launched an investigation after 12 members of the men’s lacrosse team were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis — a rare, life-threatening muscle injury — following a 45-minute “voluntary, supervised” workout on Sept. 16.
A total of 50 athletes participated in the workout, which was led by a Tufts graduate who had recently completed Navy SEAL training, according to a statement sent to Fox News Digital on Monday.
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Nine were hospitalized for the condition.
As of Monday, three of the student athletes remained in the hospital and are “responding to treatment,” Tufts Spokesperson Patrick Collins said in the statement.
What is rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis — often referred to as “rhabdo” — is a rare injury that causes the muscles to break down and disintegrate, according to Cleveland Clinic.
It usually happens after a prolonged period of “excessive exercise,” trauma (injury), certain medications or an underlying health condition, the clinic noted.
The condition can be life-threatening because the muscle fibers can make their way into the bloodstream and kidneys, potentially causing kidney damage.
“Anyone leading a group or individual into strenuous training should be aware of the signs of dehydration and overexertion.”
Typical symptoms include muscle weakness, stiffness or pain, as well as changes in urine color, per Cleveland Clinic.
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“Rhabdomyolysis can lead to severe organ failure, cardiac arrhythmia or compartment syndrome, which could be fatal,” warned certified personal trainer Regis Pagett, the founder and owner of R Personal Fitness in New York City.
IV therapy can be used to flush out toxins from the bloodstream, the expert said, but physical therapy and strength training would be needed to regain the lost muscle.
“It could take anywhere from a few weeks to months depending on the severity of symptoms,” he added.
Why were the athletes affected?
In the statement provided to Fox News Digital, Collins (the Tufts spokesperson) stated that the university is “addressing this matter with the utmost seriousness.”
“The university continues to closely monitor the condition of the team, and some individual team members have been medically cleared to resume training,” Collins said.
“Having qualified coaches oversee intense training is necessary.”
“However, all team practices continue to be postponed until university medical personnel authorize their resumption.”
The university will appoint an independent investigator to “determine exactly what happened before, during and after the workout; assess the university’s response; and review its procedures and policies to determine what changes it should make to prevent this from happening again,” Collins added.
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“Meanwhile, we are closely monitoring the condition of the rest of the team and have postponed all team practice activities until each team member has been evaluated and medically cleared to return to participation.”
The university is unable to provide additional details until the investigation is complete, the statement said.
As the condition is not contagious, the fact that several of the Tufts lacrosse players were diagnosed “absolutely” suggests that the workout was too strenuous, according to Pagett.
“This is rare in athletes — overall, rhabdomyolysis is something more commonly seen in victims of physical trauma,” he told Fox News Digital.
It is also a “high possibility” that the affected team members were not properly hydrated, Pagett noted.
“Anyone leading a group or individual into strenuous training should be aware of the signs of dehydration and overexertion,” he said.
“Sometimes a competitive athlete will push themselves to finish through just about anything, but you have to know when to save the athletes from themselves.”
To prevent rhabdomyolysis, Pagett emphasized the importance of a “sound workout plan,” adequate hydration and proper post-workout care (nutrition, rest and supplementation).
“Having qualified coaches oversee intense training is necessary,” he added.
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“Leveraging people who have completed a training regimen, such as what happened in this case, doesn’t necessarily give them the knowledge needed to properly train others.”
Anyone experiencing symptoms of rhabdomyolysis should seek medical attention immediately.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed reporting.
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