John: I can’t say there is anything inherently wrong or dangerous or unsafe with these products, but I can’t really justify why you would take so much stuff without a good reason. So I guess I would say these mega packs fall into the ‘don’t waste your money’ category.
Brad: I’m on the fence with this one. It really depends on who we are talking about and what the exact formula is..neutralRusty (Follow-up): Brad’s answer reminded me of another question to ask. Does a high level Olympic athlete need more vitamins and minerals than a somewhat active adult. I realize that the calorie requirements would be different, but what about the RDA for the basic vitamins and minerals?
John: A high level athlete probably does need a bit more vitamins and minerals because they are simply using up resources faster. But only a BIT more, and this can usually be taken care of by more food or a simple multivitamin, I just don’t see the necessity for a huge pack.
Brad: Really depends on the athlete, the type of activity, etc. This level of athlete at this time in their career is much different than the rest of the population..probably in the top 1% of the world in terms of human performance and nutritional needs. So while these people may need a different nutrient intake, remember that unless someone has said “You know, you might just win gold” to you in the last six months, this is not a reason to think you need more vitamins and minerals just because you are working out hard.