The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-25
|ILL-ADVISED USE.
 OF PILLS PLAYED
Poor Economy Claims Health Dept; Unneces-
 sary in Most Instances

A well-balanced daily food plan will supply not only necessary vita mins but other food elements which are fully as essential to physical fitness, says the current weekly bull letin of the State Department of Health. Vitamin preparations are an added expense which is unneces- sary in most instances except when advised by physician for the treat ment of deficiency conditions. Nor mally, there is no need to resort to tablets for the days supply of vita minS.
 In an effort to keep workers phys ically fit for full war time produc- tion, many industrial plants have considered mass administration of vitamin tablets perhaps advisable. Opposing such practice, a report of the council on Industrial Health of the American Medical association opens with the following statement:
 While recognizing the great sig nificance of vitamins to human nu- triton and the importance of prep arations of vitamins when properly the Council on Foods and Nutrition and the Council on. Industrial Health of the American Medical as- sociation disapprove of the mass, in- discriminate administration of vita mins to industrial employees for the following reasons: It is trrattona! from the therapeutic point of view and therefore has TO place in a pro- gram aimed at securing industrial health. It is unwiSe nutritionally because special vitamin preparations cannot take the place of valuable natural foods in achieving the conn., pletely satisfactory nutritive state. Finally, because a good diet can provide all that vitamin prepara- tions have to offer ard more in this connection. the practice of mass administration of vitamins is un- economical
 Following a survey in 1941, the Committee on Nutrition in Industry of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research council reached certain conclusions relating to the vitamin question. First, that there was room for much improve ment in finding workers in industry. Too little attention for instance, was paid to food served and food selected by workers was often in- adequate. Inadequite facilities and personnel without Knowledge Of nu- tritional needs were found. Second, if these conditions were corrected there would be no need of any vita min administration.
 The report further states, "Calor- ies are particularly important, and the number of calories required by workers varies directly with the amount of muscular effort eXpend- ed. No amounts of vitaminS and essential mineral nutrients can ob- viate this need for energy. Further more, if wholesome natural foods are used as the source of the needed calories the required vitamins and minerals will be secured automatic ally because they are contained in these natural foods"
 The bulletin explained that daily food plan which makes liberal use of milk, eggs, cheese, butter or vita minized margarine. whole grain or enriched bread and cereals, some meat-particularly liver, green and yellow vegetables, citrus fruits, and tomatoes will contain the essential vitamins. It should be remembered that minerals such as calcium and iron as we'll as high quality protein are important and that such foods contain these as we'll as vitamins so why not depend upon them and save the cost of vitamin tablets to use for necessary expense.