Madam, - I would echo Irene Stevenson's plea (March 14th) that "the opinions of those who have tried alternative medicine and found it to work should be considered".
In this context the current attitude of Irish authorities to food supplements is alarming. As the EU deliberates over maximum levels of vitamins and minerals to be permitted on open sale, the Government has responded to the EU Commission that these should be kept to RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) levels which, based on outdated science, are so low as to be useless for optimising health. "RDA" simply refers to the minimum level of a nutrient that is necessary in order to avoid a deficiency disease.
Thousands of Irish people safeguard and improve their health every day by supporting a good diet with what our Government apparently considers to be excessively risky vitamin and mineral supplements. Where are the dead or injured bodies?
Any supermarket may sell a customer enough alcohol and pain-killers to ensure rapid access to an A&E trolley, and the side effects of properly prescribed conventional medication are reckoned to be the fourth leading cause of death in the Western world (Lazarou, Pomeranz and Corey, JAMA vol.279 no.15), yet vitamin C is being condemned to near oblivion! We need from our authorities appropriate risk assessment and a genuine reconsideration of the benefits of food supplements, not just out-dated bias in favour of all orthodox disciplines. - Yours, etc,
JILL BELL, President, Irish Association of Health Stores, Ferrypoint, Youghal, Co Cork.