Geoffrey Cowley

While relatively few Americans suffer from acute vitamin deficiencies, Geoffrey Cowley contends, significantly increasing vitamin intake may prevent a host of serious illnesses. In the following viewpoint, the author maintains that as scientists learn more about the importance of certain vitamins and minerals in warding off heart disease, cancer, birth defects, and other health problems, new importance may be placed on vitamin supplements. Cowley is on the staff of Newsweek, a weekly journal of news and information.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How does the author describe the old attitude of the medical community toward vitamins?
2. According to the author, what are vitamins?
3. What role do scientists think free radicals play in fomenting disease, according to Cowley"

Jerome Cohen, M.D., is no faddist. A professor of internal medicine at the St...