[BabyJ]

A friend of mine is taking vitamins as she is doing the dr bernstein diet at home without dr b. what i wanna know is what does potassium, magnesium and b6 b12 do to help or speed along weight loss? Dr b is also a largely calorie reduced diet but these vitamins must do something to aid and i cant find anything that really explains it at all.

[MrsJim]

Vitamins don't speed weight loss as far as I know.

But I believe that anyone who is dieting or working out very strenously (weight training and/or intense cardio) should take vitamins. However, you don't need to buy pricey vitamins - 20/20 or Dateline ran an expose a few years back showing that both generic and name brand vitamins came out of the same hopper. I personally just buy the Trader Joe's or Safeway brands myself.

I also want to add that those of you out there who are trying to lose weight by severely restricting caloric intake (1200 calories or below) and/or using frozen meals such as Lean Cuisines (which are loaded with sodium and preservatives) or sugar-filled meal replacement products such as SlimFast should consider restricting or eliminating their use of these products and instead consume real food such as fresh veggies, fruits, whole grains and lean protein sources (chicken/turkey breast, fish, cottage cheese, lean meat, etc) rather than relying on vitamins since the vitamins you get from REAL food are far superior to pills. But that's just my two cents...

[Tiffany123]

Potassium - Plays an important role in muscle contraction and relaxation, nerve conduction, regulation of the heartbeat, production of energy and the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins.

Magnesium - Plays an important role in healthy heart function, in the conversion of carbohydrates, protein and fats to energy, the manufacture of proteins and the synthesis of the genetic material within each cell. Also supports muscle relaxation and contraction and nerve transmission.

B6 - Important in protein synthesis and the manufacture of hormones, red blood cells and enzymes. Plays a role in hormone regulation, brain function and skin health and is crucial for a healthy immune system.

B12 - Supports the health of the nervous system and the development of red blood cells. Aids in the replication of the genetic code within each cell, and plays a role in the processing of carbohydrates, protein and fats in the body.

[Tiffany123]

I was going to post the link to the site where I found this information, but it is on a site that sells diet supplements, and I don't want it to appear that I am advertising or supporting it...so if you are interested in the site, PM me...

Tiffany

[Suzanne 3FC]

I agree, Tiffany, it's sometimes hard to post a site of reference if it they sell something, since many of those sites may unrealistic or unfounded claims about various supplements. Some sites I go to to learn about specific vitamins or supplements are:
WebMD
Intelihealth
MayoClinic
Ask the Dietitian
Berkeley Wellness Guide to Supplements

BabyJ, is your friend diabetic? The only Dr. Bernstein diet that I've heard of is the one which is supposed to balance blood sugars for diabetics. It's possible that diabetics have specific needs for those supplements. If your friend has not consulted her physician about the diet and supplements she is taking, she should do so.