Nutrition and Disease

I was delighted to read Paul Smaglik's recent article regarding the role of supplements in disease prevention.¹ He presented the breadth of expertise that can be found among "nutritionists."

The role of supplements should not be controversial, and whole foods and supplements can be used together to compose a healthy diet. Unfortunately, though, the nutrition scientific community has not been progressive, and even the National Academy of Sciences has recommended that Americans obtain their nutrients from foods and not supplements.² This message to the public is shortsighted. For too long, we have focused on the lack of a deficiency disease (e.g., scurvy, rickets) as the definition of what optimal nutrient intakes should be, and we have lost sight of the big picture that nutrient intakes in larger quantities may prevent chronic disease. Also, some nutrients, such as chromium, are difficult to obtain even with a varied diet; again,...