Doctor Column

The Case for Taking Dietary Supplements September 5, 2019 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Vitamin supplements are a goldmine for the manufacturers of these products. More than 30 billion dollars a year is forked over for these pills. The irony is that most people taking supplements follow good dietary habits and don’t need them. But are there situations that demand supplementation? Benefits of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) August 15, 2019 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD In the 15th and 16th centuries, Columbus, Magellan, Vasco da Gama and their sailors lived at sea for months at a time. On these challenging voyages, fresh fruits and vegetables were not available. As a consequence, the seamen suffered from malnutrition and the reality that 50% of the men onboard would not return home alive. “Why Do We Need B vitamins?” July 25, 2019 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD The B complex vitamins are a group of water soluble nutrients that are found in animal proteins, leafy green vegetables and whole grains. Surprising Information About ‘Vitamin A’ May 15, 2019 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Many are aware that vitamin A is needed for normal eyesight, especially in low light. Vitamin A helps maintain a healthy cornea, the clear, outer layer of the eye. It’s also needed by the retina, the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, for it to function normally. Vitamin D — Are You Getting Enough of It? April 5, 2019 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD When I was about five years old, my mother would open the kitchen cabinet door, take out a dark bottle and come towards me with a spoon in her hand. She didn’t have to say anything. Vitamin Basics — The Surprising Story of Vitamins March 25, 2019 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Today, we don’t blink an eye when we buy vitamin D fortified milk, vitamin B1 (thiamine) enriched cereals, iodized salt or other enriched foods. Yet, it took centuries before researchers started to figure out the biochemical composition of food and minerals and how they impacted our health.