A daily multivitamin to boost memory? Here's what to know

60% taking vitamins? Obviously it's not working.

Average life expectancy there peaked at 77 and is now the worst of all developed countries (around 5 years less now on average). Even Iranians (gasp) live longer than Americans.

One solution could be universal health care. I just forgot what I read.

Interesting study even with their limitations, but as mentioned it would be much better to simply make the extra effort to have balanced diet instead of relying on pills, specially when most of them are hugely overpriced and many of the nutrients still end up in the urine without being absorbed because there was no deficit in the first place.

For people with special conditions they may be necessary, but for most taking the nutrients from the food is not even that difficult. I would have liked for the study to include much more detailed records of the diet of the participants, the observed effect may not apply in general for all the people but be centered on the improvement of those that had a poor diet and corrected this with the use of vitamins.

...and many of the nutrients still end up in the urine without being absorbed because there was no deficit in the first place.

I take Cost Co's Super B-Complex and my wee glows.

I can imagine it might provide a slight benefit to someone on a standard American diet of highly processed food, but I agree with virusrexx !!! that "it would be much better to simply make the extra effort to have balanced diet instead of relying on pills".

Having said that, I have come across a number of studies showing benefits of lion's mane and other mushrooms on cognitive function...

Obviously a balanced diet is better than the option

Not according to the experts. They don't discuss "balanced diet."

Here's what the study says:

The study found multivitamins may boost memory function in some people, 

The multivitamins may work by providing micronutrients that enhance function of the hippocampus, 

This is the important facet of the study.

It is well-known in medicine according to those in the field that as people get older they do not get the same results from eating the same diet as when they were younger.

So, these supplements are vital for the results shown.

The article doesn't even mention "balanced diet" so I will listen to the actual experts.

From the article:

U.S. dietary guidelines recommend that Americans should get their nutrients from food

Doesn’t ‘get nutrients from food’ mean ‘eat a balanced diet’?

A balanced diet means not only getting what you need (protein, vitamins, minerals etc) but also not getting too much of some stuff (salt, fat, ultra-processed sugar, etc.)

The study found multivitamins may boost memory function in some people, 

… and these are people who are actually getting a balanced diet? Or people subsisting on a high-calorie, high-fat, highly-processed regime of fast food and pre-packed meals?

Not according to the experts. They don't discuss "balanced diet."

What is the point of repeating the same comment that was already deleted?

The experts made guidelines that clearly say the best way to get the nutrients is in the diet, it is there written in the article clearly

.ietary guidelines recommend that Americans should get their nutrients from food, unless they have specific needs or are advised to take vitamins by a health care provider. 

What evidence do you have that proves the guidelines are wrong? No part of the study says the nutrients should be taken by multivitamin preferentially compared with a balanced diet.

It is well-known in medicine according to those in the field that as people get older they do not get the same results from eating the same diet as when they were younger.

Which is why a balanced diet is not the same for every age group, except for patients with specific problems a balanced diet according the the age group the patient belongs is enough to get the necessary nutrition including micronutrients.

So, these supplements are vital for the results shown.

What part of the study says this? there is no comparision made with a dietary instruction, without it there is no way to prove the claim you make, the nutrients appear beneficial, but there is no evidence that supplements are vital to get them.

Please excuse me when I say this is a farce when they stipulate it MAY work.

Please excuse me when I say this is a farce when they stipulate it MAY work.

This is not just a random guess they are making but a scientific conclusion based on data collected systematically. It means that in their study this is indicated clearly, even if not proved beyond any other possible explanation. The problem is thinking that things have to be proved with 100% certainty or else they would be meaningless, findings can be useful even when only indicative..

This article has been brought to you by vitamin manufacturers and suppliers throughout Japan

Which is why a balanced diet is not the same for every age group, except for patients with specific problems a balanced diet according the the age group the patient belongs is enough to get the necessary nutrition including micronutrients.

As noted, balanced diet is not mentioned by the scientists. Just trying to define a term based on your own opinion is not scientific.

And as doctors know, a balanced diet does not mean balanced nutrients that are needed to boost memory.

It's like saying everyone should exercise, no matter what their age. Although it may be a true statement, the amount of exercise needed is not the same across the board depending on people's age.

Memory is an important resource. The Daily Examination of one's Conscience prescribed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) has been working wonders for the practitioners of the Ignatian pedagogy.

The problem with taking a daily multivitamin to boost memory is that you have to remember to take it every day...

As noted, balanced diet is not mentioned by the scientists. Just trying to define a term based on your own opinion is not scientific.

And this is still refuted with the same quote from the article that did it the last time you made this mistaken argument.

Dietary guidelines recommend that Americans should get their nutrients from food, unless they have specific needs or are advised to take vitamins by a health care provider. 

It is still written there, not an opinion but a dietary guideline that specifically calls for nutrients to be preferentially be obtained from food, which obviously is better if balanced.

And as doctors know, a balanced diet does not mean balanced nutrients that are needed to boost memory.

That is a baseless appeal to authority, do you have any reference where doctors (with names and credentials) say that a balanced diet do not contain the necessary nutrients for a healthy life?

It's like saying everyone should exercise, no matter what their age.

That is a false analogy, because nobody said that a balance diet is the same for everybody no matter their situation, the composition of a diet to be considered balanced depends on the person that is to consume that diet, making the assumption this is not taked into account is where your argument can be demonstrated wrong.

They should have done a concurrent study on the participants ' diets to determine nutrients that may be lacking, if any

I eat healthy food, very little processed and I run around like the Duracell bunny. Always feel full of beans, whoopee

Dr Frank Suarez, who misteriously committed suicide before publishing his book about cancer and its cure, suggested taking coconut oil with cottage cheese. I add coconut oil to my coffee. Some studies conducted in Nepal suggested the use of turmeric in preventing cognitive decline. This is one of the vital components of the Okinawa diet.

Another recommendation was to stay away from vegetable oils, like corn, sunflower, canola, and soybean oils. And with that, staying away from fried food using those oils.

In fact, I no longer look at food fried in lard as bad. The grease is not exposed to the industrial refining processes the vegetable oils go through.

I have the suspicion that lard was given a bad report like the eggs, so they could sell the vegetable oils. It must have started with having excess surpluses of corn that they did not know what to do with it, and they started the oil business.

Finally, the doctor indicated that olive oil and coconut oil are about the safest choices.

Rather than buying fried chicken cooked in these oils, I buy the grilled chicken in the rotisserie.

If you understand Spanish, Dr Suarez has all kinds of useful medical advices in Facebook under Metabolismo TV..

I have the suspicion that lard was given a bad report like the eggs, so they could sell the vegetable oils. It must have started with having excess surpluses of corn that they did not know what to do with it, and they started the oil business.

Your suspicion would be correct. Loads on this one. Thank Crisco. Evil company.