My husband, his cousin, and I were taking this vitamin also. In late January/early February, we all began to feel bad physically (flu-like symptoms). On February 18th, I began losing large amounts of hair. From that week until the day we found out about Total Body’s Selenium overdose, I had seen 3 doctors, had several appointments of lab work, and had to be subjected to two biopsies of my scalp. I lost my hair so quickly, I had to buy a wig 3 weeks later. My husband had such severe joint pain; he couldn’t open anything as simple as a pack of crackers. Our cousin and I have also been losing our fingernails, which is a painful process. We haven’t taken Total Body Formula since Saturday, March 29th, and my hair is just now beginning to fill back in with fuzz. Unfortunately, our fingernails are a lost cause. According to my dermatologist, the loss and re-growth could take approximately 6 months. I’m glad to see that there is finally some media coverage on this, in the case that people are still taking this vitamin and not knowing why they are experiencing such severe physical changes. It’s just unfortunate that this coverage is just now beginning.
Renee’ Taylor
Jacksonville AL

I take a selenium supplement so I was interested in the article. Would it have been too much work for the writer to list the recommended daily allowance for selenium?

I don’t know what the problem is. If you get sick, you don’t eat and if you don’t eat, you lose weight. And most Americans want to be thinner. We need to look for the good in the bad.

I have always cautioned people whom I recommend supplements to that they are to use wisdom in taking them. Herbs and supplements are natural drugs and people should make themselves aware of what they are taking. That being said, I feel that it is ironic that I experienced ALL of these TOXIC symtoms and many more while taking a Doctor administered and FDA approved chemo drug for the treatment of Cancer. And people DIE from the side effects of these drugs every day!!! WITH NO OUTRAGE FROM ANYONE!!! Go figure it!!!!

Were they made in China?

This is a problem you wouldn’t encounter with a reputable company, which manufactures its own supplements, produces its own raw materials from organically-grown plant extracts, and implements tight quality control over content and processing. That can only be one company, to go unnamed (lest I be accused of crass sales solicitation). You generally get the quality you pay for. Cheap supplements can be worthless at best and dangerous at worst.

Is this another china product? Why are we still buying from them? What ever happened to the country of origin labels? I can’t find them on half the stuff I buy. I have seen several catalogs lately where country of origin labels have been ignored or not included in the first place. If the ingredients come from one country and the labor from another I want to know that.

When are we going to learn that in 2008 there are still people selling “Snakeoil”. We do not need supliments. Eat a balanced meal and you will get all the vitamins and supplements you need.

The title of the article implied it was a “Vitamin” overdose when it was not. It was a Mineral
overdose. Minerals are NOT Vitamins.

There is a universe of difference between MINERALS and Vitamins. These are two very
different things. It is almost impossible to overdose on vitamins while very easy to overdose
on minerals. While a vitamin overdose may be unpleasant (headache) a mineral overdose
can very easily kill you.

Surely this is the precursor to a level I zombie outbreak. Or perhaps this is the coverstory that sweeps the outbreak under the carpet.

There is indeed a Chinese connection as is the case with contaminated Heparin and thousands of other products. When we will learn to boycott all Chinese products? It is an absolute disgrace. As for the Country of Origin labels — that was successfully fought by none other than China’s main retailer Wal-Mart.