FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
At what times should nutrients be taken?
If nutrient preparations are taken before meals, they are usually absorbed better. However, people with a sensitive stomach sometimes react sensitively to (higher-dosed) nutrient preparations, especially if they contain iron, zinc or copper salts. In this case the nutrient preparations should be taken during or after a meal.
Are some nutrients absorbed better in the morning, at lunchtime or in the evening?
Iron compounds are absorbed better in the morning, zinc salts in the evening. However, this fact should not be overrated. Generally it is more important to take nutrient supplements regularly and over a long term than to pay attention to the diurnal absorption fluctuations.
Can a nutrient deficit be balanced by a wholesome diet?
If a wholesome diet means a consistent and varied diet with foods with a high nutrient concentration, serious deficits will hardly occur. However, an existing nutrient deficit can hardly be compensated by a wholesome diet alone. As the magnesium example above shows, you would have to eat twice the quantity of foods containing magnesium daily for several months. An emphasis on this unbalanced, albeit wholesome, diet would certainly result in deficits in other nutrient supplies. Therefore, if nutrient deficits already exist, it is more efficient to take high-quality nutrient preparations in addition to a balanced diet.
How can you tell the differences in quality between individual nutrient preparations
By the composition and the dosage. Preparations of lesser quality usually contain individual synthetic compounds that only support individual steps in the multi-step metabolism. The biological benefit of such preparations is usually low. Some manufacturers state the total weight of a compound per dose as the quantity, e.g. 10 mg zinc sulphate (instead of 2.3 mg zinc) or 100 mg calcium carbonate (instead of 40 mg calcium). However, it is always the “net content” of the individual nutrient that is relevant, not the “gross content” of the total compound. Package inserts with data of this kind therefore lead you to believe the product contains higher concentrations of the nutrient.
What accounts for the quality difference between PMN substances and other nutrient preparations?
The complexity of the nutrient compositions. The plant cell “knows” which nutrient compositions and concentrations are optimal for its structural metabolism. Therefore it develops the right nutrient complexes it needs all by itself. The human cell, which is very similar to the plant cell, thus receives an optimal basic nutrient composition with PMN substances
What accounts for the quality difference between PMN substances and other nutrient preparations?
The complexity of the nutrient compositions. The plant cell “knows” which nutrient compositions and concentrations are optimal for its structural metabolism. Therefore it develops the right nutrient complexes it needs all by itself. The human cell, which is very similar to the plant cell, thus receives an optimal basic nutrient composition with PMN substances
Can the body get used to a surplus of additional micronutrients?
Habit-forming effects in the sense of increase elimination will occur only if mega-doses (multiples of the physiological daily need) are taken over a longer period of time. An additional nutrient supply of up to one to three times the daily need is usually safe even over longer periods of time.
Are there any interactions between the individual nutrients?
There are interactions between virtually all nutrients. It is in the nature and biological function of nutrients that they interact with each other, sometimes activating and sometimes inhibiting each other. With a balanced supply of nutrient complexes, especially if they are supplied as required, each nutrient molecule will “involve itself” in the metabolism in a physiological way. In accordance with the so-called principle of “homoeostasis” the body balances out temporary deficits and surpluses. Nobody eats e.g. exactly the amount of fruit or milk that corresponds with his daily vitamin C or calcium demand every day. Days, weeks and even months of fluctuation in the body’s nutrient supply are normal, both with regard to the daily diet and with regard to nutrient supplementation.
Is there any interaction between nutrient preparations and foods?
The absorption of nutrients is influenced by every food, either positively or negatively. However, in practice these interactions are not as relevant as some absorption studies may lead you to think. However, the concurrent consumption of wholemeal cereals, and in particular of fibres and black tea has a serious impact on the absorption of minerals. These foods fix minerals to form compounds that are hardly soluble and cannot enter the blood stream. The concurrent consumption of fat substitutes or fat blocking substances (chitosan or resorbitol) prevents the absorption of essential fat-soluble vitamins and vitaminoids
How long should nutrient programmes be continued?
The supplementation of a magnesium deficit of about 5 g (equivalent to a reduction in body supply by about 20%) requires an additional daily magnesium supply of about 350 mg over a period of slightly more than three months. This means that in addition to the daily dietary magnesium supply of about 300 mg, about 350 mg magnesium have to be supplied daily in the form of magnesium preparations. The dietary magnesium covers the “daily activity” in the metabolism, so to speak. Only the additional magnesium supplementation compensates for the deficit, i.e. replenishes the depleted supply in the bones, muscles, soft tissue, liver and red blood cells. Therefore a significant health effect cannot be expected if nutrient preparations are only taken for a few weeks or even just days.
Is there any interaction between nutrients and medicinal drugs?
Certain antibiotics, e.g. tetracyclines, can block the absorption of certain minerals and vice versa. This also applies to biphosphonates, which are used in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone disorders. Potassium and magnesium can enhance the effect of cardiac glycosides. In practice, it is easier to follow the instructions on the package insert of the medicinal product: they will tell you whether the effect of the drug is influenced by individual nutrients. Generally, any medicinal products that can be taken during meals can also be taken together with nutrient preparations. If in doubt, you should wait one or two hours between taking the drug and taking the nutrient preparation.
