Reader doubts hand-washing wisdom

Dear Dr. Roach: In your recent answer regarding proper hand-washing, you stated, “These germs are not killed by the gel and need to be washed off the hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.”

My question is why “warm” water is necessary. For the temperature of the water to have any therapeutic effect, it would have to be too hot to tolerate. The procedure of washing one’s hands with water and soap, mechanically, removes germs. The temperature is immaterial. Aside from comfort, is there any reason to use warm water?

D.G.

Answer: Warm water is better able to dissolve particles on the hands. The temperature is not designed to kill the bacteria.

However, it turns out that washing your hands with any temperature water (cold, warm or hot) is just as effective, at least in terms of getting rid of bacteria. Washing in too-hot water can cause irritation to the skin, but you can use whatever temperature you like, for at least 20 seconds. I thank D.G. for questioning conventional wisdom.

Dear Dr. Roach: As a vegetarian, I decided to take a B complex vitamin pill three times per week. These pills contain very large amounts of various vitamins, e.g. 6,667 percent of thiamine, 1,176 percent of riboflavin, 125 percent of niacin, 250 percent of vitamin B-12, etc. Do vegetarians need these vitamins in a pill form? Do these amounts do me more harm than good, keeping in mind that I take only one pill three times per week?

K.S.

Answer: Being a vegetarian often is an excellent choice for health; however, people who are strictly vegan will not get adequate vitamin B-12 without taking supplements. Vegetables are good sources of other B vitamins, so just the B-12 is needed. More than 100 percent of the B-12 is not harmful. If you notice your urine is yellow/green, that’s your body just getting rid of the excess of the other B vitamins in the tablet, especially the thiamine.

The B-12 dose you’re taking is fine for three times a week. Many vegetarians take larger amounts, but it is not usually necessary.

Readers may email questions to: ToYourGoodHealth@med .cornell.edu or mail questions to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.