18 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 342 



Chocco- Yeast (N.J. 21282) 



Dennos Food (N.J. 21177) 



Earle's Palatable Hypo-Col Tablets (N.J. 22370) 



Jo-Lova Tea (N.J. 22602) 



Malvitose (N.J. 25050) 



Normalettes (N.J. 21198) 



Mastin's Vitamon Tablets (N.J. 24118) 



Nu-Vita Yeast (N.J. 20903 and 21581) 



Thor's Vitamin Compound (N.J. 21189) 



2. SPECIFIC VITAMIN CLAIMS MAY BE LEGITIMATE 



Some comment seems to be necessary regarding the justified and ethical 

 claims which may be made regarding specific vitamins and the abuses encoun- 

 tered in lay advertising. Again space prohibits an exhaustive treatment of this 

 subject but some of the questions most frequently asked will be considered. 



(a) Vitamin A. Vitamin A, found abundantly in natural foods such as 

 dairy products, green vegetables, carrots, etc., is necessary for normal growth 

 and health but need not be sought in expensive proprietary food preparations. 

 One of the terms recently applied to vitamin A is anti-infective, implying that 

 it increases resistance to infection. While there is ground for believing that 

 an adequate amount of vitamin A is essential for the normal functioning of 

 the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, there is no assurance that an 

 additional supply of this factor will prevent infection. Resistance to disease 

 in general depends upon other factors than diet or any one dietary essential. 

 Thus advertisements claiming that vitamin A or any other vitamin will pro- 

 tect against colds or respiratory infections are misleading although not abso- 

 lutely false. 



(b) Vitamin B Complex. This term vitamin B complex has come to be 

 applied to a group of vitamins not necessarily similar in composition but 

 associated in natural distribution. Several distinct fractions are recognized 

 by research workers but from the standpoint of practical human nutrition, not 

 more than two fractions, B (Bi) and G (B 2 ), need to be considered. Bothare 

 essential for normal nutrition but are easily obtained from common foods in a 

 well-balanced dietary. B (B x ) is widely distributed in whole grains and 

 vegetables: while G (B 2 ) is abundant in dairy products, eggs, meats, and fish. 

 Both are present in yeast, which fact has given rise to undue exploitation of 

 yeast products. 



It is true that brewers yeast may be richer in vitamins B and G than bakers 

 yeast, but the fresh moist yeast, if taken in sufficient quantity, may have 

 more laxative effect than the dry yeast. Any type of yeast or yeast extract or 

 product containing these is considered as a special purpose food and should be 

 advertised as such. Many promoters of yeast products make unwarranted 

 therapeutic claims. 



(c) Vitamin C. Recent progress in vitamin C research has stimulated 

 both scientific and popular interest to the point where overemphasis has be- 

 come a danger. Formerly fresh raw fruits and vegetables were the only sources 

 of this vitamin. Now it has been produced in pure crystalline form which may 

 be used to reinforce foods or pharmaceutical preparations. This possibility 

 opens the door to exploitation and fraudulent claims by unscrupulous adver- 

 tisers. Ordinarily a liberal supply of fresh fruits and vegetables will supply 



