Vitamins are essential says the Canadian Health Food Association

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadian statistics show a large number of Canadians suffer from nutritional deficiencies because of an inadequate or inappropriate intake of food. These are precisely the people who stand to benefit from natural health products.

The studies cited in the AIM editorial are based on

• A study  of male doctors over the age of 65;
• A study where almost half of participants stopped taking the multi-vitamin during the study, and;
• A review which concluded that multi-vitamin intake actually reduced cancer risk in men.

"Multivitamins and other natural health products help to effectively bridge the gap for the numerous Canadians who cannot meet their nutritional needs from food alone," says Helen Sherrard, president of the Canadian Health Food Association.  "Misleading editorials like the one published today in Annals of Internal Medicine are a disservice to the 7 in 10 Canadians who benefit from natural health products every day."

"CHFA recommends that people take multivitamins for overall health and wellness and to bridge nutrient gaps," said Sherrard. "There is clear scientific evidence that multivitamins work for those purposes and that's why the majority of Canadians who are not sure they are getting everything they need from their diet should consider taking a multivitamin."

The Canadian Health Food Association believes that health is a life-long journey that includes healthy foods, exercise and natural health products.  CHFA would also like to remind all Canadians that Health Canada regulations require that all natural health products authorized for sale in Canada must demonstrate their effectiveness.

For Health Canada's report on nutrient insufficiencies in Canadians, please view this page:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/nutrition/commun/art-nutr-adult-eng.php

About CHFA
The Canadian Health Food Association is Canada's largest trade association dedicated to natural health and organic products.  Our members include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and importers of natural and organic products. Combined the natural health and organic product industry contributes $6 billion to the Canadian economy. CHFA is committed to promoting and protecting both.

SOURCE: Canadian Health Food Association

For more information or interview requests please contact: Michelle Book, Director, Communications 416.497.6939 ex 230 or [email protected]