38 Comments
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Mark Madonna's avatar

I have to dispute the supplement claims. I take a number of supplements that have benefitted my health and have been demonstrated by repeatable blood work. I'm am not obese but do take targeted supplements.For example I use alpha lipoic acid which has reduced my a1c by a full point without change in diet. Also the vitamins listed and tested were of the lowest quality and non methylated. I do follow everything else Dr. Fung teaches.

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Susan Kercher's avatar

Are there any supplements you recommend? You didn’t address any of the ones I take—K2, D3, magnesium, fish oil, probiotics.

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Elisa's avatar

Exact thoughts! Heck fish oil , magnesium too! Resvetrol , Nac, coq10, Vit c,b, theracumin, , something I've been taking since flccc and others recommended for Covid CURED my ragweed +++ allergies

So hard who to believe nowadays

Everyone is an expert

But heck I may stop all and save tonne$!

I know that dr Joe Swartz is against all these supplements too

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Kiara Sands's avatar

All of this is excellent information. However, my husband had a severe prostate infection and he is anabiotic resistant. He went through four rounds of high dose antibiotics with no effects search searching for solutions. We tried high dose, intravenous vitamin C and ozone within two weeks. The infection was almost completely gone. After three weeks of treatment, it was gone so while I agree with a lot of his statements, I would encourage him to look more into high doses of vitamin C for infection.

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MarkGW's avatar

I read a lot of people who have success with IV Vitamin C for cancer and other disease. I also don’t see the studies disproving it.

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andrea baker's avatar

This article sucks

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BradfordK's avatar

One problem is that Big Pharma funds studies to disprove therapies which might interfere with the flow of money. Ivermectin and HCQ come to mind. Because if they had any advocacy, the EUA for “vaccines” it would have never occurred.

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Hatchetwoman's avatar

Dr. Fung, w/respect to the calcium/vitamin D study ... the dose of vitamin D, even at the highest, is vague. ">= 600 iu" is first of all probably still too small, and I would have liked to have seen an upper limit on it to know how many took how much. We also have no serum measurement of vitamin D, just a statement that it was 28 times higher in the test group than in the control group. This is also too vague.

There's no mention of exercise in the write-up. Did any of the women exercise at all? It makes a difference for bone-density. The mention of hormone replacement therapy doesn't mention whether or not that was bio-identical. It might make a difference. Were any of the women also on progesterone (again, bio-identical or not)? Women who are taking estrogen supplements and still have a uterus *must* take progesterone, or they risk getting endometrial cancer. The progesterone also helps build bone.

Further, we know now that magnesium is also necessary when taking vitamin D. There is no mention of magnesium in the write-up.

I get your overall point about supplements, although I don't agree with it 100%. There are different forms of various vitamins, for example cyanocobalamin versus methylcobalamin (B-12), and some are better than others. Another example: Beta-carotene rather than actual vitamin A: did you know there are some people who are genetically unable to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A?

I do take some supplements currently. However, because I do eat low-carb while IF, I eat meats, vegetables, and dairy, so I don't take a multi. What I take is CoQ10, resveretrol, and nattokinase, plus vitamin D and Omega 3 in the form of fish oil. Despite my good diet, I had started having spiking BP due to menopause and family stress, and even though supplementing with bio-identical estrogen has helped, it didn't bring my BP to normal levels. I found some info from Dr. Stephen Sinatra about supplementing, and I started using his protocol. It has helped me bring my BP back to normal levels.

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End tyranny's avatar

The Women's Health Initiative is anything but that. I love your work on fasting but not trusting anything they do.

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Kristina Bognerova's avatar

Just like few people above asked - what about those with MTHFR mutations?

Furthermore, vitamin D3 (+K2)? Not all of is live in sunny climates.

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Richard V's avatar

Most people are deficient in various vitamins. I disagree with this article. I won’t stop taking supplements based on this article. I respect Dr Fung’s position but on fasting and other advice, but I think there is plenty of evidence supporting the use of supplements. In my own experimentation I find they boost my endurance, strength and recovery from high intensity workouts.

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Leland Patin's avatar

While your opinion is strong, the truth will set you free.

Vitamin E Succinate is clinically proven and patented to kill cancer cells. Fact.

Vitamin C, combined with other antioxidants, pre-metabolized in specific bioavailable form, will reduce inflammation and oxidative damage - something drugs do not accomplish.

The proof : Military Micronutrient Formula, MMF, now Micro Daily ! 14 clinical trials, 7 patents

Any questions ?

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Jack's avatar

This screed sounds more like dogma than a balanced view. I would bet for every study quoted, another of equal value exists that shows the opposite. Love to hear Dr.’s Rhonda Patrick or Peter Attia respond….

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Ron DeSilva's avatar

Sounds like propaganda to me…

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Ovidiu CLADOVEANU's avatar

Too sad for this article . There is more than B vitamins. Now we don’t call simple supplements, but nutraceuticals. Things have evolved , also clinical studies about them . Please do not write without being informed .

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Hamilton Creek's avatar

Please read the book on B1 deficiency by Derick Lonsdale and Chandler Marrs. Prepare to have your mind blown.

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Laurie Mcclain's avatar

Please answer this if you have time. Are the supplements used in the studies even natural organic holistic whole food supplements? I suspect not.

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SilverEarring's avatar

Oh and noticed you’re a nephrologist - what do you think of the hydrochlorothiazide study published about 18 Mon ago showing no benefit for stones? I took myself off that drug also after discussing with my Doc, although he said they weren’t going to change their overall practice guidelines. 🧐

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Ron DeSilva's avatar

Question everything!

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Engwmn's avatar

So what about people with mthfr homogeneous? Should the stop taking B supplements? I believe and trust Dr. Fung, have been following him for years and he always turns out to be right.

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Jen Cleveland's avatar

I’m curious about this too (have a double heterozygous MTHFR mutation). My levels were very low before supplementing and I eat a mostly meat ketovore diet.

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WyoWildWood's avatar

I am also.Curious about this

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