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Yvana van den Hork  •  03-11-2024

Freedom of speech: 20 years after the assassination of Theo van Gogh, censorship is worse than ever.

Freedom of speech: 20 years after the assassination of Theo van Gogh, censorship is worse than ever.

Freedom of speech: 20 years after the assassination of Theo van Gogh, censorship is worse than ever. On gaslighting about the usefulness of dietary supplements.

Saturday, November 2, 2024 it was 20 years ago the enfant terrible among the 'famous' Dutch was murdered in broad daylight by Muslim terrorist Mohammed Bouyeri.
Twenty years later, people are committing self-censorship by commemorating his death as the 'proclaimer of freedom of speech', without mentioning the motive or the name of the perpetrator. Self-censorship that had been in effect for decades and was first broken by Pim Fortuyn, who also paid for it with his life two years earlier in 2002.
 
Twenty years after Theo's death, (self)censorship is worse than ever before. Self-censorship about the increasing influence of Islam on Dutch culture, but of course also self-censorship about the consequences of the covid vaccine in relation to collateral damage and excess mortality. "I don't want to end up like Theo" is an often-cited and justifiable excuse. The consequences of speaking out about the disinformation surrounding corona (ivermectin is only suitable for horses, vitamin D is dangerous in high doses) are less deadly, but can still be very harmful. Your messages will be removed from most social media, you may lose your account (certainly common on LinkedIn), but people also regularly lost their jobs for speaking out or refusing the jab, could no longer open a bank account and sometimes even had to flee to faraway countries, as happened to a fellow citizen Dr. Simon Goddek who now lives self-sufficiently in the Brazilian jungle or health scientist Sam Brokken who moved to Mumbai.
 
Even today, gaslighting is still in full swing. For example, the general public is made to believe that taking nutritional supplements is dangerous, with comedian-activist Lubach was given ample opportunity to make fun of it. From personal experience, I noticed how an acquaintance to whom I had given a jar of vitamin D3 in the highest strength (5000 IU/125mcg) was convinced by her physician that I had poisoned her when she developed health problems around the same time. She was not to be swayed by my rejection that you would have needed to take around a hundred thousand units or more to experience any adverse effects and that many tests had been done already to prove its safety. Instead, she believed her GP who had acquired zero knowledge on dietary supplements during his (or her) medical studies.
 
Who is spreading disinformation here? Certainly not me, but who is believed? The so-called authority!
 
There are many health-related opinions that once completely went against the prevailing narrative but are now very slowly being accepted as the truth. It will probably take quite a few years before it is acknowledged that the current excess mortality is a result of the mRNA vaccines, but hopefully almost everyone is convinced that it is indeed useful for everyone to take a multivitamin and vitamin D and maybe additionally a vitamin B-complex when you practice sports. 
However, it's maybe just about half of the population who takes a multivitamin and even less that take vitamin D.
 
Therefore, I thought it appropriate, especially in light of the disinformation being heaped on you in the mainstream media and the misinformation on some social media (particularly TikTok), to provide more factual information.
 
Unfortunately, much of the factual information on internet is suppressed by authorities and even some supplements are becoming more and more difficult to obtain (NMN, PQQ) due to EU censorship.

Can a placebo beat a multivitamin?

Multivitamin and mineral supplements are the most commonly consumed supplement. But despite their popularity, multivitamins are controversial, with studies showing mixed results on their benefits.
 
A team of researchers from Oregon State University (OSU), however, found a significant positive effect when older men used multivitamins, to the extent that they concluded, "Our evidence indicates that many older men could benefit from a daily multivitamin."

Multivitamins improve key biomarkers of nutrition

The study involved 35 healthy men aged 68 years or older. Half took a multivitamin/multimineral (MV/MM) supplement while the other half took a placebo, daily for six months. The men used no other supplements during the study period, with the exception of doctor-prescribed vitamin D.
 
"Our tests when the study started showed that many of these older men were not obtaining the optimal levels of several vitamins. So there certainly was room for improvement."
 
Significant differences were noted between the two groups at the end of the study period, however. The multivitamin group had improved biomarkers of nutrition while the placebo group did not. In fact, nutrition biomarkers fell in some of the placebo participants, which suggests that food alone was not enough to keep their vitamin and carotenoid levels up.
 
However, the placebo group also had a reduction in cellular oxygen consumption, which is a marker of cell function. "This was not observed in men who took the multivitamin, suggesting a connection between vitamin status and white blood cell function that we are eager to explore further. " 
 
By improving vitamin status, or preventing declines, as well as limiting reductions in cellular oxygen consumption, the team stated that multivitamin/multimineral use "may have important implications for metabolism and immune health in healthy older men." While vitamin and mineral deficiencies weren’t widespread in the healthy subjects that took part in the study, the researchers still found multivitamins to be worthwhile, explaining:
 
    "The use of multivitamin/multimineral (MV/MM) supplements can improve or prevent declines in the status of several vitamins and may prevent declines in cellular bioenergetic status. Although MV/MM supplementation is a "one-size-fits-all" strategy and does not target specific micronutrient needs, it is a cost-effective approach to improve micronutrient status in older men and may have an as yet unappreciated impact on maintaining metabolic function in cells."

Multivitamins are good for memory

Other research, by scientists from Harvard Medical School and Columbia University, demonstrated that older adults taking a multivitamin supplementation may experience memory improvements.
 
In as group of 3,562 older adults, participants received either a multivitamin supplement or a placebo.
 
The participants were evaluated at baseline and each year using a battery of neuropsychological tests over a period of three years. Results showed that participants taking the multivitamin supplement had better immediate recall at the first year point, which was maintained during follow-up.
 
The researchers estimated that taking a multivitamin improved performance by "the equivalent of 3.1 years of age-related memory change" compared to placebo. The team concluded:
 
 "Daily multivitamin supplementation, compared with placebo, improves memory in older adults. Multivitamin supplementation holds promise as a safe and accessible approach to maintaining cognitive health in older age."

Do multivitamins lower chronic disease and cancer risk?

The goal of the study was to evaluate cocoa extract supplementation with and without a standard multivitamin against the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer. The larger study enrolled 21,442 participants and found cocoa flavanol supplementation did not show a significant impact in reducing the total number of cardiovascular events.
 
However, when the data were evaluated further, they also found daily multivitamins potentially reduced lung cancer by 38% and "did appear to improve levels of several nutritional biomarkers." Previous research also found that daily multivitamin supplementation led to a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of total cancer among men aged 50 years or older.
 
Other research found multivitamin use was associated with a 70% decrease in risk of non-cardia gastric cancer among Black participants who were below the healthy eating index median, meaning they had a lower-quality diet.
 

B vitamins may also slow brain aging

Many multivitamins contain B-complex vitamins, which are important for your brain. Vitamins B6, B9 (folate, B11 in the Netherlands) and B12 support cognitive function as you age and have been shown to play a major role in the development of dementia. 
 
Deficiencies of the vitamins folate, B12 and B6 are associated with neurological and psychological dysfunction … In the elderly, cognitive impairment and incident dementia may be related to the high prevalence of inadequate B vitamin status and to elevations of plasma homocysteine.
 
Plausible mechanisms include homocysteine neurotoxicity, vasotoxicity and impaired S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation reactions vital to central nervous system function. In light of this, it is imperative to find safe ways of improving vitamin B status in the elderly. 
 
Research published in PLOS One even suggests B vitamins may slow brain aging. It compared brain atrophy in participants taking folic acid (0.8 milligrams (mg) per day), vitamin B12 (0.5 mg per day) and vitamin B6 (20 mg per day) for 24 months with that in patients taking a placebo.
 
Those taking B vitamins had a lower rate of brain atrophy per year — 0.76% — than those not taking them, who had an atrophy rate of 1.08%. According to the researchers, "The accelerated rate of brain atrophy in elderly with mild cognitive impairment can be slowed by treatment with homocysteine-lowering B vitamins."
 
Vitamin B3 is found in grass fed beef, mushrooms and avocados, while vitamin B6 is plentiful in grass fed beef, potatoes, bananas and avocados. You can find folate, or vitamin B9, spinach, broccoli, avocado and asparagus.
 
Vitamin B12-rich foods include grass fed beef liver, wild rainbow trout and wild sockeye salmon. For more serious deficiency you may need weekly shots of vitamin B12 or daily high-dose B12 supplements.
 

Trace nutrient protects brain health

Another nutrient to be aware of as you age is nicotinamide riboside (NR), a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and a form of vitamin B3. Found in milk as well as in supplement form, NR may help to boost levels of NAD+, which typically declines in the brain with age, leading to metabolic and cellular dysfunction. By raising NAD+ levels, NR may modify neurodegenerative disease in humans, helping to protect brain health.
 
In a study it was discovered that NR supplementation increases NAD+ levels and lowers biomarkers of neurodegeneration in plasma extracellular vesicles enriched for neuronal origin (NEVs).
 
Among the 22 older adults who took NR at a dosage of 500 mg twice a day for six weeks, NAD+ levels in NEVs increased while kinases involved in insulin resistance and neuroinflammatory pathways decreased. The results suggest NR, by increasing NAD+, could help ward off Alzheimer’s disease.
 
The NAD+ precursor niacinamide is also beneficial, but it’s not widely promoted because it costs much less than other NAD+ precursors, including NR. You can use 25 to 50mg of niacinamide three times a day. More is not better as too much can inhibit sirtuins, which are important longevity proteins.
 

Why older adults may be at risk of nutrient deficiencies

It’s important to note that getting older doesn’t guarantee nutrient deficiencies. In fact, given the lack of nutrient deficiencies that were found among their older subjects, there is evidence to suggest that micronutrient deficiencies observed in prior reports may not be a function of age per se but a consequence of underlying health conditions or poor dietary habits.
 
There are, however, a number of factors that could predispose older adults to deficiencies and inadequacies in micronutrients — and if you are deficient, it’s possible that a multivitamin may be especially useful. Changes in eating habits along with physiological changes may contribute to micronutrient inadequacies. 
 
For example, both food choices and changes in nutrient absorption may decline as a result of poor oral health, gastrointestinal pH changes, chronic low-grade inflammation of the gut (i.e., atrophic gastritis), co-morbid diseases, polypharmacy, or loss of taste and smell, and any combination of these factors.
 
 There is also the possibility that advancing age may lead to heightened micronutrient utilization, making it more difficult for older adults to maintain blood nutrient levels. Acute or chronic inflammatory events, which often plague older individuals, may reduce the circulating concentrations of several vitamins and minerals.
 

Most common nutrient deficiencies

The best way to ward off nutrient deficiencies is to intentionally fortify your meals with whole, nutrient-dense foods. Targeted supplements can also be beneficial to make up for any nutritional gaps, as can multivitamins when needed.
 
In the U.S., 31% of the population was found to be at risk of at least one vitamin deficiency or anemia, increasing the risk of health problems over a lifetime. It’s also estimated that 1 in 3 Americans are deficient in at least 10 minerals, putting them at risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Even at a subclinical level, being deficient in vitamins and minerals can cause a range of symptoms, including:
  • fatigue
  • irritability
  • aches and pains
  • decreased immune function
  • heart palpitations
Some of the most common nutrient deficiencies include:
 
1. Vitamin D — an estimated 40% of Europeans are deficient in vitamin D, while 13% are severely deficient. Among older Americans, however, it’s estimated that up to 100% may be deficient, in large part due to less time spent outdoors.
 
The only way to gauge whether you might need to supplement, and how much to take, is to get your level tested, ideally twice a year, in the early spring, after the winter, and early fall when your level is at its peak and low point. Vitamin D is best obtained via sensible sun exposure, but supplementation may be necessary for some people.
 
2. Magnesium — it’s estimated that more than half the U.S. population may not be consuming enough magnesium. You only need about 150 milligrams (mg) to 180 mg a day to prevent deficiency, but optimal levels are closer to the 600 mg/day level. For comparison, the RDA for magnesium is around 310 mg to 420 mg per day depending on your age and sex.
 
Dark green leafy vegetables are a good source of magnesium, and juicing your greens is an excellent way to boost your intake, although supplementation is likely necessary for most people.
 
3. Vitamin K2 — known for its role in bone and heart health, vitamin K2 is found in grass fed animal products such as meat, eggs, liver and dairy, as well as in fermented foods, including sauerkraut, certain cheeses and the fermented soy food natto — items that many Americans do not consume enough of.
 
4. Vitamin B12 — a water-soluble vitamin also known as cobalamin, vitamin B12 plays a role in numerous biochemical reactions and neurological functions in your body, including DNA synthesis. Your body can’t make vitamin B12 on its own, so it must be obtained via your diet or supplementation.
 
It’s been suggested that nearly two-fifths of Americans may have lower than ideal B12 levels, with 9% deficient and 16% below 185 pmol/L, which is considered marginally deficient. While vegetarians and vegans are susceptible since B12 is derived from animal products, even meat eaters may be deficient, as problems with absorption are common.
 
5. Vitamin A — An estimated 51% of adults are not consuming enough vitamin A, increasing their risk of degenerative diseases like macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.
 
Vitamin A is a group of nutrients that falls into two different categories: retinoids found in animal foods and carotenoids found in plant foods. The two are chemically different and provide different health benefits, but both are necessary for optimal health. Plant foods high in beta-carotene include sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe and mangoes. Animal foods rich in vitamin A include liver, egg yolks and grass fed butter.

The best way to get your nutrients is from food

Eating fresh, whole foods is the best way to stay healthy and obtain the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Avoiding ultraprocessed foods, which are devoid of nutrients, is essential, but adding to the challenge, researchers have documented declining nutrient value sin the whole foods people are eating.
 
In one of the largest studies, researchers found a reliable decline in six nutrients across 43 foods. With levels of protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C and other nutrients lower in many fruits and vegetables compared to past decades, it’s now more important than ever to choose locally grown, organic foods to support optimal health.
 
If you feel you’re not getting enough nutrition from your diet, however, a multivitamin may help fill in some gaps. When choosing any multivitamin or mineral supplements, be sure to look for a manufacturer that has checks and balances in place to ensure the quality of the product.

Summary 

A team of researchers from Oregon State University found a significant positive effect when older men used multivitamins
The study involved 35 healthy men aged 68 years or older; half took a multivitamin/multimineral supplement while the other half took a placebo, daily for six months
The multivitamin group had improved biomarkers of nutrition while the placebo group did not
The placebo group had a reduction in cellular oxygen consumption, which is a marker of cell function; the multivitamin group did not
By improving vitamin status, or preventing declines, as well as limiting reductions in cellular oxygen consumption, multivitamin/multimineral use “may have important implications for metabolism and immune health in healthy older men”
Older adults taking a multivitamin supplementation may experience memory improvements
Taking a multivitamin improved performance by "the equivalent of 3.1 years of age-related memory change" compared to placebo and could not only help maintain cognitive functioning but potentially enhance it
Separate research found three years of multivitamin supplementation translated to a 60% slowing of cognitive decline; Improvements in global cognition, episodic memory and executive function were noted.
Other research revealed daily multivitamins potentially reduced lung cancer by 38% and improved levels of several nutritional biomarkers
While whole, nutrient-dense foods are the best source of nutrition, older adults may be at risk of nutrient deficiencies and some may benefit from multivitamin supplementation
 

Author

Yvana van den Hork
Rank: Senior Editor
Position: Director
She holds an MSc in Toxicology and Biology of the Wageningen University
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