VITAMINS NECESSARY FOR HEALTH, NUTRITION RESEARCHER SAYS

MANHATTAN -- Making sure your diet contains plenty of beta-carotene and anti-oxidants is an important aspect of maintaining good health says a Kansas State University nutrition professor.

Rick Baybutt, who holds a doctorate in nutrition from Penn State, said anti-oxidants -- beta carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C -- are prevalent in fruits and vegetables.

The nutrition researcher is currently investigating the impact of nutrients and their effect on lung disease.

Baybutt encourages smokers, who are at a higher risk for lung cancer and emphysema, to stop smoking. But, if smokers do not quit, he suggests they increase their intake of beta-carotene and anti-oxidants.

Baybutt said the RDA, recommended dietary allowance, of vitamins was established with healthy people in mind. The amount needed by those who smoke, or who have degenerative diseases, may be higher.

"Beta-carotene comes from yellow and green vegetables and protects against cancer of the lung, stomach, pancreas, liver, colon, breast and prostate. It stimulates the immune system and is vital for lung cell repair," Baybutt said.

"Minerals like zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and iron are important because of the anti-oxidant enzymes they activate," he said. "Although obtaining these nutrients from eating food sources is better, taking a multiple vitamin every day is fine, too."

Baybutt takes a multivitamin every other day himself. He buys generic vitamins.

"There's no advantage to buying expensive vitamins," Baybutt said. "Also, consumers shouldn't be taken in by claims about 'natural' vitamins. 'Natural' vitamins are the ones you get from eating spinach and carrots. Once the vitamins are in pill form, none are more natural than any others."

Consumers often are misled by labels on vitamin bottles, Baybutt believes. For example, on a bottle of beta-carotene, the label indicates that each pill contains between 10,000 and 25,000 I.U. -- international units of beta-carotene. This is equivalent to 6-15 mg of beta-carotene, which is the amount that is found in one medium size carrot.

"Know what you are buying and be a knowledgeable consumer," he said.

"It's best to get nutrients from foods," Baybutt said. "And green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale have the highest concentration of orange carotenoids. These naturally occurring anti-oxidants help prevent oxidative damage and protect the body from disease."

-30-

Prepared by Cheryl May.

June 1996