There is a tremendous amount of confusion surrounding nutritional supplements, due in part to the FDA's bizzare regulatons for these products. Conspiracy buffs may want to read Kevin Trudeau's popular Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About, although listening to his ubiquitous infomercial is sufficient to get the gist of the problem.
Given that one risks prosecution for practicing medicine without a license even for making accurate statements about the uses and properties of supplements, where can one hope to find reliable information? One excellent source is the handful of practicing physicians who incorporate supplements in their practice.
You may have seen The University Lecture Series with Dr. Nicholas Perricone during PBS "pledge week" or any of Dr. Perricones's books or other DVD's. Perricone is a dermatologist, so perhaps it is understandable that he emphasizes the effects of these products on healthy, youthful-looking skin, although I personally find The Brain-Beauty Connection more compelling. In any case, his audience seems very receptive.
The list below comes from my notes on the PBS program, and a little further research will convince you that there is considerable consensus that these are the basic supplements anyone should consider, with the possible exception of Maitake SX Fraction, which has a specific (although very common) indication.
Much has been said about the quality of supplement products. Undoubtedly, some are better than others, and tend to be more expensive. However, higher price is no guarantee of quality. I feel that even the cheapest brands are "better than nothing," if you are trying something to see if it seems beneficial. If you decide to add a supplement to your regular regimen, you can do a little further research into which brands are best.
Dr. Perricone markets his own brand of supplements, which I'm sure are very high-quality. They are by no means cheap.
Perricone's Top 10 Recommended Supplements
- Omega 3 Oil
- Glutamine
- Acetyl L-Carnatine
- Coenzyme Q-10
- Conjugate Linoleic Acid
- Chromium
- Alpha Lipoic Acid
- Gamma Linoleic Acid
- Borage (Source of GLA)
- Maitake SX-Factor
- Green Tea
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