Labeling Question

[crervin]

I looked up the benefits of coconut milk. It says it contains calcium, iron, C, E, etc. However, I just looked at my can at home that contains only the milk and it says 0% iron, 0% calcium, etc. My question is, do only certain containers of coconut milk contain those vitamins?

Thanks

[tex]

Martha,

Nutrition labels constitute a manufacturer's guaranteed analysis. IOW the label guarantees that the product contains at least the amounts of those nutrients specified on the label. If they contain more, the excess is irrelevant (to the FDA). But if the product actually contains less than the amount listed on the label, and someone alerts the FDA, the FDA will get all bent out of shape and send a letter to the manufacturer containing all sorts of ugly threats. So most manufacturers try to understate the actual nutrient content of their products so that they don't have to worry about running afoul of the labeling laws in case any of the nutrients in an occasional batch happen to be at levels slightly below normal. Some may take that to extremes. By certifying zero nutrient values, they meet the letter of the law, without any potential risk of violating the label laws.

But if you look up nutrient analysis listings for foods, the listed quantities typically depend on whose analysis is selected for the article, because most of the nutrient values will vary by test batches. Sometimes an average value is listed, but that is only an average for the particular lot or lots that were tested. Values from foods grown in various parts of the country (or the world) vary significantly.

To further complicate matters, many branded/processed products are enriched with certain nutrients. Because most of those products tend to contain the cheapest forms of those nutritional supplements available, they may or may not actually provide any significant benefits for the consumer. They meet FDA requirements, but that doesn't mean that we can actually utilize all of the nutritional supplements that are added.

So it's no wonder that many of us are not getting anywhere near the nutritional value from our food that we like to think we're getting.

I apologize for just further confusing the issue.

Tex

[crervin]

Thank you Tex, I knew you would clear that up for me. But dang that stinks, so nutritional value. I'm only able to drink it and water. Other drinks and supplements are irritating my bladder. I'm trying to get my nutrients from what little food/drink I can handle right now. Do you think 6 weeks would be ample amount of time to see if the vit d3 cream is working? Was going to test in a few weeks. I'm a little worried about keeping my vit d level up without oral supplements.

Thank you so Tex!

[tex]

Can you tolerate a vitamin D spray? Vitamin D sprays are primarily offered for people who have gastrointestinal issues. An oral spray is designed to be absorbed through the membranes in the mouth, which should bypass digestive tract issues and go straight into the bloodstream. I posted this to the research page of the MCF website yesterday:

Oral vitamin D sprays shown to be as effective as oral capsules
Because IBD patients tend to have a limited ability to absorb vitamins and minerals in their diet, and most IBD patients are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, there is a significant amount of interest in the possible use of alternative vitamin supplements that can bypass the malabsorption problems caused by digestive system issues. In a side by side comparison trial, where subjects started with an average serum vitamin D level of 23 ng/ml, one group used conventional capsules, while the other used an oral spray. After 4 weeks of treatment using 3,000 IU of vitamin D daily, serum vitamin D levels were measured again. The group using capsules showed an average vitamin D level of 36 ng/ml, and the group using the oral spray averaged 34 ng/ml. The difference was small enough that the treatments could be considered to be equivalent, for most practical purposes.

Vitamin D3 supplementation in healthy adults: a comparison between capsule and oral spray solution as a method of delivery in a wintertime, randomised, open-label, cross-over study.
Todd, J. J., McSorley, E. M., Pourshahidi, L. K., Madigan, S. M., Laird, E., Healy, M., & Magee, P. J. (2016). British Journal of Nutrition, 116(8), 1402-1408. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?te ... over+study.

Martha, note that in this trial they retested magnesium levels in only 4 weeks, so that answers your question about whether 6 weeks would be too soon.

Also note that according to the Vitamin D Council, the "washout" period for vitamin D is considered to be about 10 weeks. IOW, if you stop taking vitamin D, after 10 weeks your level should return to about where it was before you started taking it.

A washout period refers to a time allowed for all of the administered drug/supplement to be eliminated from the body. For vitamin D, this takes about 10 weeks.

Are oral vitamin D3 sprays as effective as capsules?

You're most welcome,
Tex

[crervin]

Thank you so Tex! You are a wealth of information. So thankful there are alternatives! I will try it to see.