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Most popular vitamin and mineral supplements provide no health benefit, study finds
The most commonly consumed vitamin and mineral supplements provide no consistent health benefit or harm, suggests a new study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto.
Published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the systematic review of existing data and single randomized control trials published in English from January 2012 to October 2017 found that multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C -- the most common supplements -- showed no advantage or added risk in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature death. Generally, vitamin and mineral supplements are taken to add to nutrients that are found in food.
"We were surprised to find so few positive effects of the most common supplements that people consume," said Dr. David Jenkins*, the study's lead author. "Our review found that if you want to use multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium or vitamin C, it does no harm -- but there is no apparent advantage either."
The study found folic acid alone and B-vitamins with folic acid may reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, niacin and antioxidants showed a very small effect that might signify an increased risk of death from any cause.
What about people who would otherwise eat an incredibly nutrient-deficient diet (e.g. junk food, rice, bread, pasta, french fries, hot dogs, etc.)?
Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals for CVD Prevention and Treatment (DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.04.020) (DX)
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 30 2018, @09:12AM (2 children)
I take a zinc supplement and for me it helps prevent or reduce the severity (just a bit of a sniffle while others are suffering badly) and duration of the symptoms of colds. I probably still get infected with the cold virus but without the symptoms it doesn't matter much does it? :)
Also take coenzyme q10 for energy and a low/zero iron multivitamin to cover any "gaps". Low iron because I prefer to get my iron from other sources and taking too much iron seems to be bad for health.
I don't take mega doses of antioxidants via pills like many people seem to do because that's been shown to be bad for health too and I probably get enough antioxidants from my diet (leafy vegetables[1]).
[1] From a health perspective fruits are overrated and unnecessary, might as well take vegetables especially leafy greens. But if you want dessert and sugar then fruits are a good match for that.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 30 2018, @05:32PM
> ...zinc supplement and for me it helps prevent or reduce the severity ... colds.
My mother is a big believer in this. Caution -- at one point she expanded to using a nasal spray containing some zinc compound (forgot details). It appeared to be effective in limiting colds. Then she lost most of her sense of smell (a big part of "tasting" and enjoying food). Later I did some searching and this could be a common side effect of zinc in the sinus cavity, and in her case it was permanent (happened 20+ years ago).
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Wednesday May 30 2018, @08:29PM
Our beautiful, beautiful young women need the iron. Even the ones that are VERY VERY NOT NICE (Megyn Kelly). Because they have blood coming out of their eyes. Blood coming out of their wherever. And it's a lot of iron coming out of there, that I can tell you.
And our very ugly & old women, sometimes they need the iron. When they get the facelifts -- always get the facelift -- and they're bleeding from the facelift. Again, so much iron coming out of that.
And anybody that has a gunshot wound. Or the multiple gunshot wounds. Maybe it's a girl who hasn't started with the periods yet, you know? Or a boy or man. So many of our boys & men, they get a gunshot wound or two, they're bleeding out. It happens, right? And they think, oh, I can just eat my regular food, maybe extra meat. I don't need the supplement. And I'll be 100% very quickly. WRONG! Trust me on this, you need the iron supplement. Costs a little money, it's not much. But it's so important.