(单词翻译:单击)
We spend a fortune on vitamins and painkillers in the UK; about ?362m on each a year. And a new report by industry analysts shows that, for the first time in a decade, sales of vitamins have risen above those of painkillers. Theories accounting for the growing demand for supplements include our hectic modern lifestyle, awareness of healthy living and an ageing population. This implies that we have no time to eat real food, think we need to boost vitamin intake to be healthy and that the elderly are suckers for products promising pain-free joints and eternal youth. But, even if we don't believe all the marketing hype, are vitamin and mineral supplements good for us?
在英国,我们在维生素和止痛药上的花费大约是每年3.62亿英镑。而业内分析师十年来第一次给出的最新报告显示，维生素的销售已经超过止痛药。理论上满足了日益增长的需求包括我们繁忙的现代生活形式、健康生活的意识和人口老龄化。这意味着我们没有时间吃真正的食物，认为我们需要增加维生素的摄入，为了健康和青春永驻。老年人使用无痛苦关节的产品，而且老年人的产品市场很有前景，比如无痛苦的关节和青春永驻类产品。然而即使我们不相信所有市场营销的炒作，但是维生素和矿物质的补充剂对我们有益吗？
Many of us will have lowish vitamin D levels after a long winter and the health implications are unclear. NHS Choices recommends that everyone over 65 and people who don't get much sun take a small daily supplement. Pregnant women and people whose diet is very restricted (such as alcoholics and some vegans) need expert dietary advice. Some people can't absorb vitamins from food because of gut surgery or damage from conditions such as Crohn's disease. Vitamin deficiencies can result in serious health problems such as rickets (vitamin D), scurvy (vitamin C) or severe anaemia (B12 and folate). A simple blood test organised by your GP will diagnose most of these.
漫长的冬季后，我们很多人体内维生素D含量都很低，对健康的影响目前还不清楚。英国国家医疗服务体系建议， 65岁以上的人如没有晒足够的太阳，每个人应每天摄取一小片。孕妇和节食的人除外（如酗酒和一些素食主义者）需要专家的饮食建议。有些人由于肠道手术或条件损害如克罗恩病不能从食物中吸收维生素。维生素缺乏会导致严重的健康问题，如佝偻病（维生素D），坏血病（维生素C）或严重的贫血（B12和叶酸）。家庭医生通过一个简单的血液组织测试就能诊断大部分的疾病。
If you're well with no symptoms and a reasonable diet, it's very unlikely that you've got a significant vitamin deficiency. The question is whether taking them will do you any harm. The small print on the tub tells you the recommended daily allowance of each active ingredient. If you stick to that, you should be OK. Vitamins B and C are water soluble, so any excess ends up in your urine. However, vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble, so excess is stored in fat and levels can build up. High levels of vitamin A can be toxic.
如果你没有症状，饮食也很好，你得维生素缺乏症几乎是不可能的。现在的问题是服用维生素是否对你有任何伤害。在药瓶里面的小字条上告诉你每天的有效摄食量。如果你按上面坚持服用就可以，维生素B和C是水溶性的，任何超量摄入最后都会从尿液中排除。然而维生素A、D、E和K是脂溶性的，过量摄入会储存在脂肪和堆积起来，维生素A含量高可能是有毒的。
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