Campus Life

New Kensington campus seminar to discuss good and bad of dietary supplements

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. — Lucy Ricardo pitching "vitameatavegamin" in a 1952 episode of "I Love Lucky" as a cure for people who were tired, run-down and listless is among the most famous of tonics that have been peddled as health solutions for a myriad of ailments. Today, the pills and elixirs, called dietary supplements, are more sophisticated. But are they needed, and do they work any better (or worse) than back in the day?

The answer to these questions will be discussed by a physician and dietician from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in the Conference Center at Penn State New Kensington. “Vitamins & Supplements: Help or Harm?” will be the topic of a program on the multi-level marketing of dietary supplements.

Betsy Blazek-O’Neill, a physician at Allegheny Valley Hospital, and Dom Battaglia, a registered dietician at the hospital, will discuss how the right nutrition choices can provide necessary vitamins and minerals. They will review the latest information on the ubiquitous vitamins and supplements that are hawked daily by broadcast and print media and across the Internet. Blazek-O’Neill and Battaglia will help the audience navigate the pothole-filled road to good health. A question-and-answer session will follow the talk.

Blazek-O'Neill, board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, has been in practice for 28 years. She is an expert in how alternative and complementary treatment options work with traditional medicine. A graduate of the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine, Blazek-O'Neill completed a residency at University of Wisconsin Hospital.

Sponsored by the campus and Allegheny Valley Hospital PriorityCare, the event is free to the public. Parking is free in all campus lots.

To register or for more information, call 877-284-2000 and select option 2 or visit https://www.ahn.org/events/vitamins-and-supplements-help-or-harm.

What's the latest research on vitamins and supplements? Find out at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at Penn State New Kensington. Credit: © shutterstock/Vladimir BorozenetsAll Rights Reserved.

Last Updated March 24, 2016

Contact