Nutritional medicine refers to the oral ingestion of vitamin and mineral supplements, either in the form of liquids or pills. Our body requires a series of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, K) and trace minerals like magnesium, zinc, chromium, iron, and others for normal functioning.
But, not all are able to fulfill the required amount of nutrients in their body, either due to their lifestyle or a medical condition. The deficiency of these nutrients leads to various diseases and functional impairment in the body. It is in such circumstances that nutritional medicine comes to the rescue.
How Did It Begin?
The first use of this medicine began in China by the nutrition scientist, Dr. Carl Rehnborg. He started working on plant based food supplements. He believed that things like phytofactors extracted from plants could work in combination with proteins and vitamins and enhance their effect. He needed a strong evidence to support his belief.
Therefore, he conducted an experiment (This was some 50 years back). He distributed some health supplements to people directly and asked them to recommend them to their friends, if they worked. He neither marketed the product through conventional means nor hyped about it. All he wanted was the truth to come out from users’ mouths.
His supplements turned out to be quite effective! Such was the success of these health pills that Dr. Rehnborg came to be called the pioneer of the first and biggest company for food supplements in the world!
The Debate On Supplements
Some experts are of the view that health supplements should be taken regularly for good health while others opine that nutritional pills should be taken only when there’s a deficiency of nutrients in the body. For example, you may be advised to take iron supplements when you’re diagnosed with anemia. Anyone with hemoglobin measuring up to 12 grams per 100 milliliters of blood (which is normal) may not require such pills.
Nutritional medicine is not only administered to curb deficiencies, but also to facilitate body processes or alter any disease processes. The following are some examples:
• Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids in increased amounts significantly lowers the harmful fat levels in blood. These fatty acids are either derived from fish oils or plants. They also control inflammation in cases of rheumatoid arthritis and decrease chances of relapse in inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
• Zinc supplements are given orally to patients suffering from flu or common cold. It improves the symptoms and cuts off the duration of the cold.
• Consumption of Vitamin C supplements helps in fast recovery from cold.
• Supplementing your body with Vitamin B6 helps in PMS and maybe in autism.
• Vitamin E supplements help angina patients.
• Consumption of folic acid before and during pregnancy decreases the chances of spina bifida and birth defects in the newborn.
The last one maybe of significance, as an American study has revealed that a large number of adults take just half the RNI for folate in their daily diet.
The debate on the practical application of nutritional medicine is still on. The scientific validity of these medicines is still vague. Many medical experts recommend supplement doses that are complicated and expensive to carry on. However, people do claim to benefit from nutritional pills.
Whether this is purely a matter of belief, or a state of mind that induces the benefits, or these supplements actually induce vitality in the body is still to be made clear. Till then, you can go on popping those vitamin pills prescribed by your doctor without any worries.
NOTE: Always consult your doctor before taking any nutritional supplements.