Brewer, a specialist in alternative medicine based in London, says studies have indicated that individuals taking multivitamins for up to a year "had better immune function, a better response to flu vaccination and half as many days ill compared with those not taking them."
One of the most valuable, she says, is vitamin E, an antioxidant that appears to offer protection against heart disease -- "but high doses are best balanced with similar doses of vitamin C, which is needed to regenerate it." For vitamins A and D, cod liver oil is a rich source.
But when it comes to fish oils, Dr. Brewer advises, some attention to detail is warranted. For instance, the omega-3 variety (made from the flesh of oily fish) contain three times as much of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA compared with cod liver oil. Omega-3 oils are beneficial for joints and the cardiovascular system, while cod liver oil is generally helpful for the joints.
