Key to Protection from Age-associated Disease: AM/PM

by Prof. Alfred "Roc" Ordman

Vitamin C is absorbed and excreted over 12 hours: Water soluble vitamins and minerals are necessary every 12 hours to maintain the elevated levels that are likely to provide optimum health. By reading page 1 of USA Today on October 18, 1994, many people learned that water-soluble nutrients generally pass through the body in 12 hours. The story quoted the researcher who made the discovery: "If vitamin C really does work as an antioxidant, then taking a supplement once a day might be like wearing a condom half the time." If one wants optimal health, a once-a-day multivitamin is unlikely to be sufficient.

Calcium is absorbed and excreted over 12 hours: The vitamin C discovery was followed by a study showing calcium is absorbed over a 12 hour period, preferably in small doses from 200-400 mg ("Urinary Excretion of Calcium in Students and Mature Women Taking Supplements", A. Cone, T. Danner, and A. B. Ordman, AGE 19(4): 164 (1996)

Multivitamin/minerals taken once a day may not be effective: On May 15-17, 2006, the National Institutes of Health held an online State-of-the-Science Conference on Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Chronic Disease Prevention. Many expert researchers, physicians, and manufacturers were present for speeches and discussion. The conclusion of the expert panel at the end of the conference was that no decision on the safety or effectiveness of multivitamin/mineral supplements could be reached. Most people assume multivitamins are safe. But because they are not regulated by the FDA, some may be hazardous to health.

There are two important features to consider when choosing an effective multivitamin. First, because many vitamins and minerals are water-soluble, a formulation should be designed to be taken twice a day, in the AM and the PM. Also, people who try to eat a decent diet are often as likely to suffer from consuming too much of certain vitamins. It has been reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that as many as half of Americans may be suffering from getting too much vitamin A. One reason MDR works to avoid megadoses is that the higher doses provided by many vendors may be hazardous. Too much calcium, for instance, blocks the absorption of zinc.

In order to discover the value of many vitamins over the long term, clinical trials will have to be properly designed. In March, 2006, another study in the Journal of the American Aging Association reported that the true health benefits of vitamin C and E will not be realized until clinical trials provide vitamin C to participants twice a day.
"Design for a study to determine optimal dosage of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in humans", Moser, L. R. and A. B. Ordman, AGE 28: 77-84(2006)

If you take water-soluble vitamins and minerals in supplement form, consider finding an AM/PM variety so that you are protected around the clock.