FACTS, FADS AND FRAUDS IN NUTRITION 19 



the vitamin C requirement of a normal individual. If, as some scientific 

 investigators indicate, there is need for temporary reinforcement with this 

 vitamin in certain diseases, the physician may recommend a vitamin C con- 

 centrate produced by a reliable pharmaceutical concern. The consumer is 

 warned to be skeptical of extravagant therapeutic claims for vitamin C prepara- 

 tions. 



(d) Vitamin D. The relative lack of vitamin D in common foods and the 

 possibility of the fortification of certain foods with this factor has become a 

 matter of real concern to nutritionists and physicians. There is ample evidence 

 that infants and young children, living in northern climates especially, need 

 extra vitamin D. Older children and adults may also derive benefit from extra 

 vitamin D. This factor may be supplied by one of several vitamin D phar- 

 maceutical preparations — such as cod liver oil, halibut liver oil, or viosterol — 

 produced by reliable concerns and accurately labeled as to unitage. Some 

 children never receive any such supplement, however, and for this reason the 

 fortification of certain foods with vitamin D may be desirable. The American 

 Medical Association recently expressed the following opinion: 29 



Of all the common foods available, milk is most suitable as a carrier of 

 added vitamin D. Vitamin D is concerned with the utilization of cal- 

 cium and phosphorus, of which milk is an excellent source. 



The properties of vitamin D may be imparted to milk by irradiation 

 of milk, by proper feeding of vitamin D preparations to cows and by the 

 direct addition to milk of either natural or manufactured vitamin D 

 concentrates. 



Most of the vitamin D milk now being marketed by reliable dairies is pro- 

 duced by one of these methods and is an acceptable and convenient source of 

 this factor. The promiscuous reinforcement of a variety of other foods with 

 vitamin D seems to be unnecessary and undesirable according to the American 

 Medical Association. Those interested in this subject will do well to read the 

 more complete discussion recently published in the Journal of the American 

 Medical Association. 29 



(e) Vitamin E. There is no adequate scientific evidence demonstrating the 

 role of vitamin E in human nutrition. Most of the experimental work with this 

 vitamin has been done with rats and it is not even known that it applies to other 

 animals. This vitamin is so widely distributed in common foods that it is even 

 difficult to obtain a vitamin E deficient food mixture for experimental purposes. 

 It is, therefore, evident that vitamin E reinforcement of the diet is both un- 

 necessary and unwarranted and any product so advertised is to be regarded 

 with skepticism. 



(f) Vitamin F (?) A certain unsaturated fatty acid found widely dis- 

 tributed in common fats has been found essential for nutrition. Cosmetic 

 manufacturers have adopted the term vitamin F for this substance but scien- 

 tific authorities do not accept this nomenclature. Scientific research has 

 demonstrated the need for this fatty acid in the food of a rat but evidence is 

 lacking to prove its value in local skin application for the human. The 

 Bureau of Investigation 30 has indulged in humorous satire in answering in- 

 quiries on the subject. 



Council on Foods. J. A.M. A. 108, 206, 1937. 

 Bur. Inv. J.A.M.A. 108, 1279. 1937. 



