Gentle Care

Key Ingredients

Vitamin D3

Benefits: Once thought to be important only for calcium absorption and bone health, scientists have now found that vitamin D has important actions throughout the body. Low vitamin D levels are associated with diminished immune function, several cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases.

Why we should supplement: Many people have insufficient vitamin D levels. Since many of us live in cool climates and work indoors, and because of the potential risks of skin damage and skin cancer from too much sun exposure, supplementing is the best choice for achieving adequate vitamin D levels. Gentle Care contains 25 mcg (1000 IU) of vegan vitamin D3. D3 is more effective than D2 for raising 25(OH)D levels. 50 mcg is an appropriate dose to bring many people into the favorable blood 25(OH)D range of 30-45 ng/ml, but some people may require a lower dose.

About our D3: The vegan D3 in Gentle Care is derived from lichen sourced from the UK.

Vitamin B12

Benefits: Vitamin B12 is required for red blood cell production, nervous system function, and DNA synthesis. Deficiency in B12 can cause a variety of health problems, including anemia, depression, confusion, fatigue, digestive issues, and nerve damage.

Why we should supplement: B12 deficiency is common, especially in vegans who don't supplement, and in older adults, since absorption efficiency declines with age.

About our B12: We use methylcobalamin, one of the natural forms of B12 used in the body. Since research suggests we absorb only a small proportion of the B12 ingested, Dr. Fuhrman recommends taking 75 mcg daily to ensure we absorb the DV of 2.4 mcg.

Vitamin K2

Benefits: Vitamin K drives chemical reactions that control bone formation, and getting sufficient vitamin K may help to maintain bone mineral density. There is some evidence that K2 is more bioavailable, and has higher functional activity than K1, particularly for functions outside of blood coagulation, such as those related to bone and cardiovascular health.

Why we should supplement: Vitamin K2 is produced by bacteria and is low in most plant foods, in contrast to K1, which is abundant in green vegetables.

About our K2: Our vitamin K2 is made from flower extracts and is sourced from Norway.

Calcium

Benefits: Gentle Care contains a conservative dose (100 mg) of calcium from mineral-rich seaweed, to replicate the absorption from calcium-containing foods. Adequate dietary calcium is necessary to have strong, healthy bones.

Why we should supplement: Although adequate calcium can be obtained from a Nutritarian diet, supplementing may be appropriate for some people, such as those who have a smaller appetite for green vegetables, or women after menopause.

About our calcium: Our calcium, and some magnesium, is supplied in the form of whole powdered seaweed, harvested off the coasts of Ireland and Iceland.

Iodine

Benefits: Iodine is required for the body to produce thyroid hormones.

Why we should supplement: Most plant foods are low in iodine, and iodized salt is the main dietary source. If you follow a vegan or near-vegan diet, especially if you avoid adding salt to your food, your iodine intake is probably low.

About our iodine: Our iodine is derived from Atlantic kelp sourced from Canada.

Zinc

Benefits: Zinc is essential for immune function, growth, and reproduction, and supports hundreds of chemical reactions. Zinc adequacy is especially important to maintain our immune defenses and for resistance to infection as we age.

Why we should supplement: Zinc is abundant in whole plant foods but is not readily absorbed. Beans, whole grains, nuts, and seeds contain zinc, but also contain substances that inhibit zinc absorption. Zinc intake and circulating zinc levels are lower in vegetarians and vegans, and zinc requirements for those on a completely plant-based diet are estimated to be about 50 percent higher than the standard recommendations.

About our zinc: Gentle Care supplies 7.5 mg zinc per serving as zinc bisglycinate and zinc picolinate, two bioavailable forms.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which vitamins and minerals might be harmful when taken as supplements?

There is evidence that too much synthetic folic acid, which is more bioavailable than natural folate, has cancer-promoting effects. High doses of supplemental beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E have each been linked to an increased risk of death in several studies. There is also evidence that supplemental vitamin A contributes to osteoporotic fractures. Importantly, folate, vitamin E, and beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A) are all easy to obtain from vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Anyone following a healthful diet does not need to supplement with these nutrients. Dr. Fuhrman also recommends avoiding copper and selenium as supplements, and only taking iron if necessary.

Do I really need a multivitamin if I eat healthfully?

You need a multivitamin designed to complement your healthful diet. Vitamins and minerals are the foundations for our body's essential everyday functions, like energy metabolism, immune system function, bone strength, muscle contraction, and brain function Health-promoting plant foods provide us with vitamins, minerals, and beneficial phytochemicals, and eating more plant protein and less animal protein is linked to longevity. But reducing animal foods also reduces our intake or absorption of vitamin B12, vitamin K2, zinc, and iodine.

However, keep in mind most conventional multivitamins supply a lot of nutrients you don't need along with the important ones: beta-carotene (you get plenty from fruits and vegetables), vitamin E (you get plenty from nuts and seeds), and folic acid (you get plenty of folate from greens). Plus, these ingredients might be harmful when taken as supplements (see above). Dr. Fuhrman designed his multivitamins to give you the nutrients you need, not the ones you don't.

Is Gentle Care gluten-free? Allergen-free?

Gentle Care does not contain soy, wheat, gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, or sesame. Gentle Care is not manufactured in an allergen-free or gluten-free facility. Our manufacturing facility has an allergen control program in place designed to properly handle, store and use materials in production to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination, in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

What research went into this product?

Below are the studies that informed the development of this product:

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2. Charoenngam N, Shirvani A, Holick MF. Vitamin D for skeletal and non-skeletal health: What we should know. J Clin Orthop Trauma 2019, 10:1082-1093.

3. Wacker M, Holick MF. Vitamin D - effects on skeletal and extraskeletal health and the need for supplementation. Nutrients 2013, 5:111-148.

4. Tripkovic L, Lambert H, Hart K, et al. Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012.

5. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12 [http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12/]

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8. Carmel R. How I treat cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency. Blood 2008, 112:2214-2221.

9. Schurgers LJ, Teunissen KJ, Hamulyak K, et al. Vitamin K-containing dietary supplements: comparison of synthetic vitamin K1 and natto-derived menaquinone-7. Blood 2007, 109:3279-3283.

10. Akbulut AC, Pavlic A, Petsophonsakul P, et al. Vitamin K2 Needs an RDI Separate from Vitamin K1. Nutrients 2020, 12.

11. Halder M, Petsophonsakul P, Akbulut AC, et al. Vitamin K: Double Bonds beyond Coagulation Insights into Differences between Vitamin K1 and K2 in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2019, 20.

12. Beulens JW, Booth SL, van den Heuvel EG, et al. The role of menaquinones (vitamin K(2)) in human health. Br J Nutr 2013, 110:1357-1368.

13. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Iodine [http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/]

14. Eveleigh ER, Coneyworth LJ, Avery A, Welham SJM. Vegans, Vegetarians, and Omnivores: How Does Dietary Choice Influence Iodine Intake? A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2020, 12.

15. Barnett JB, Hamer DH, Meydani SN. Low zinc status: a new risk factor for pneumonia in the elderly? Nutr Rev 2010, 68:30-37.

16. Mocchegiani E, Romeo J, Malavolta M, et al. Zinc: dietary intake and impact of supplementation on immune function in elderly. Age (Dordr) 2013, 35:839-860.

17. Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, et al. Zinc supplementation decreases incidence of infections in the elderly: effect of zinc on generation of cytokines and oxidative stress. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 85:837-844.

18. Foster M, Chu A, Petocz P, Samman S. Effect of vegetarian diets on zinc status: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in humans. J Sci Food Agric 2013, 93:2362-2371.

19. Saunders AV, Craig WJ, Baines SK. Zinc and vegetarian diets. Med J Aust 2013, 199:S17-21.

20. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Zinc [http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/]

21. Frassinetti S, Bronzetti G, Caltavuturo L, et al. The role of zinc in life: a review. Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology 2006, 25:597-610.

22. de Bortoli MC, Cozzolino SM. Zinc and selenium nutritional status in vegetarians. Biol Trace Elem Res 2009, 127:228-233.

23. DiSilvestro RA, Swan M. Comparison of Four Commercially Available Zinc Supplements for Performance in a Zinc Tolerance Test. The FASEB Journal 2008, 22:693.693-693.693.

24. Barrie SA, Wright JV, Pizzorno JE, et al. Comparative absorption of zinc picolinate, zinc citrate and zinc gluconate in humans. Agents and Actions 1987, 21:223-228.

25. Smith AD, Kim YI, Refsum H. Is folic acid good for everyone? Am J Clin Nutr 2008, 87:517-533.

26. Ulrich CM. Folate and cancer prevention: a closer look at a complex picture. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 86:271-273.

27. Mason JB. Folate, cancer risk, and the Greek god, Proteus: a tale of two chameleons. Nutr Rev 2009, 67:206-212.

28. Patel KR, Sobczynska-Malefora A. The adverse effects of an excessive folic acid intake. Eur J Clin Nutr 2017, 71:159-163.

29. Bjelakovic G, Nikolova D, Gluud C. Meta-regression analyses, meta-analyses, and trial sequential analyses of the effects of supplementation with beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E singly or in different combinations on all-cause mortality: do we have evidence for lack of harm? PLoS One 2013, 8:e74558.

30. Schwingshackl L, Boeing H, Stelmach-Mardas M, et al. Dietary Supplements and Risk of Cause-Specific Death, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Primary Prevention Trials. Adv Nutr 2017, 8:27-39.

31. Crandall C. Vitamin A intake and osteoporosis: a clinical review. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2004, 13:939-953.

32. Kim H, Caulfield LE, Garcia-Larsen V, et al. Plant-Based Diets Are Associated With a Lower Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Disease Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in a General Population of Middle-Aged Adults. J Am Heart Assoc 2019, 8:e012865.

33. Budhathoki S, Sawada N, Iwasaki M, et al. Association of Animal and Plant Protein Intake With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality. JAMA Intern Med 2019.

34. Song M, Fung TT, Hu FB, et al. Association of Animal and Plant Protein Intake With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality. JAMA Intern Med 2016, 176:1453-1463.