Centrum Forte Ingredients
(The information in brackets are my additions Pam Duff, RN, CSNC)
- Vitamin A acetate .. 1000 IU (retinol / retinyl form; synthetic)
- Beta Carotene .. 3000 IU (a good source of vitamin A, but not a high amount)
- Vitamin E dl-tocopherol acetate .. 25 IU (synthetic; d-tocopherol is natural; also, not nearly high enough to make a difference even if it were in the natural form)
- Vitamin C ascorbic acid .. 90 mg (synthetic; plus no bioflavonoids included to make it work)
- Folic acid folate .. 0.6 mg (folate is harder to absorb than folic acid)
- B1 mononitrate .. 2.25 mg (synthetic nitrate source)
- B2 .. 3.2 mg .. (source not named)
- Niacin niacinamide .. 15 mg (two different forms of vitamin B3; react differently in the body niacin can be used for cholesterol control while niacinamide leans more towards controlling blood sugar)
- B6 pyridoxine hydrochloride .. 5 mg (a cheaply-produced synthetic form)
- B12 cyanocobalamine .. 20 mcg (synthetic methylcobalamine is natural and better absorbed and retained longer in the body; amount not nearly enough to make a difference in any form)
- Vitamin D cholecalciferol .. 600 IU (This is D3, the natural form; but it is not high enough.)
- Biotin .. 45 mcg (not high enough to make a difference in the body)
- Pantothenic acid calcium pantothenate .. 10 mg (synthetic form)
- Calcium carbonate .. 200 mg (not as easy to absorb as other forms)
- Copper cupric oxide .. 1 mg (poorly absorbed and a form that should be avoided)
- Iodine potassium iodide .. 0.15 mg
- Iron ferrous fumarate .. 10 mg
- Magnesium oxide .. 50 mg (poorly absorbed form)
- Lutein .. 500 mcg (a very insignificant amount)
- Vitamin K1 .. 25 mcg
- Manganese sulfate .. 5 mg
- Potassium chloride .. 80 mg
- Chromium chloride .. 35 mcg
- Molybdenum sodium molybdate .. 45 mcg
- Selenium sodium selenate .. 55 mcg
- Zinc oxide .. 7.5 mg (poorly absorbed form)
- Lycopene .. 600 mcg (a very insignificant amount)
Additional Ingredients
- acacia gum (gum arabic used as a thickener)
- ascorbyl palmitate (fat-soluble vitamin C; used to prolong shelf life in products that contain fat)
- BHT (a known carcinogenic preservative)
- citric acid (a natural preservative)
- corn starch (almost always now from GMO corn; used as a thickener)
- croscarmellose sodium (stabilizer that helps tablets break down better)
- crospovidone (used to help tablets break down better; an iodine-like compound that should be avoided by those allergic to iodine)
- dibasic calcium phosphate (lime or dolomite used as a form of calcium which is poorly absorbed)
- FD&C yellow #6 (a carcinogenic coal tar derivative; used to colour a supplement)
- food starch modified (from what “food” source??; used as a thickener)
- gelatin (made from boiled bones, skins, and tendons of animals)
- hydrogenated soybean oil (a toxic GMO oil; a source of synthetic vitamin E)
- hypromellose (a propylene glycol form which is toxic; used for enteric coating)
- lactose monohydrate (a milk sugar; should be avoided by those allergic to milk)
- magnesium stearate (a lubricant used to keep pills from sticking together)
- methylcellulose (a bulk-forming additive)
- microcrystalline cellulose (used as a filler)
- mineral oil light (petroleum-based, therefore carcinogenic; used as a lubricant; prevents the absorption of many nutrients)
- polysorbate (emulsifier)
- silicon dioxide (used as a drying agent)
- sodium ascorbate (used as a form of vitamin C)
- sodium benzoate (used as a preservative)
- sodium citrate (an anticoagulant used in supplements to keep some substances from sticking together)
- sodium lauryl sulfate (one of the most commonly used poisons in the world; it is found mainly in body-care products as a detergent; it cannot be metabolized by the liver; why it is in vitamin supplements is anyone’s guess)
- sorbic acid (used as a preservative)
- stearic acid (used most often as a lubricant or a medium to cause oil and water to mix together)
- sucrose (sugar)
- titanium dioxide (used as a pigment; listed as “possibly carcinogenic”)
- triethyl citrate (used to coat tablets or as an anticoagulant)Despite there being so many additives and preservatives in these “vitamins”, the label proudly states: “Does NOT contain: gluten, parabens, or tartrazine FD&C yellow #5″Interesting. Both yellow #5 AND #6 are known carcinogens. Yet one is included in the ingredients and one is left off. Synthetic vitamins are in forms the body cannot recognize. Instead, the body treats them as toxic foreign substances.
Most people innocently think they are doing the right thing by taking a multivitamin. They also want to save money. This is understandable, but what they do not realize is that by choosing a cheap, synthetic brand, they are sacrificing more than just cost.
As you can see, the type of vitamins like “Centrum” are made from isolated pharmaceutical ingredients, including various petroleum products, hydrogenated oils, fillers, preservatives, and many more harmful substances. Some are carcinogenic meaning they can cause cancers.
In addition, some research is indicating that synthetic vitamins may actually cause nutritional deficiencies! One such study was printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association (February 2007). The study found an increased death risk when synthetic vitamins were taken with the hope of improving health or preventing nutritional deficiencies.
Spend a little more and buy natural and from a place that gives you sound information you and your family are worth it!!
Natural or Synthetic on a Label
- See this site.Why do I need supplements?Refining and processing strips foods of nutrients. They also contain high levels of fats, sugars, and salts. A USDA government survey of 21,500 people found that not one single person consumed 100% of the RDA (recommended daily allowance which is much lower than the body requires to start with) from the foods they ate. In addition, because of the time it takes fresh foods to go from the farm to the table, more than 57% of the nutritional value can be lost. Plus, these foods are lower in nutrient content because of poor soil and the addition of pesticides, fungicides, herbacides, sulfites, and preservatives all of which are very harmful.
Organic produce may seem expensive but it will be virtually free of these additions. Studies have shown that organic produce is higher in nutritive value. (See specific studies.) Supplements are still necessary, even if you eat 100% organically grown food. The body simply has too much to fight against without the help of supplements.
Pam Duff, RN, CSNC
January 2010
See References.
(We invite you to check the books which we have compiled.)
