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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: 4, Insightful) by Magic Oddball on Wednesday May 30 2018, @10:32AM (1 child)
If I'm reading it correctly, the article title and quote from the doctor are misleading — the study found only that standard vitamin supplements weren't useful for preventing cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes, or sudden death. No judgment was apparently passed on whether vitamin supplements can do anything else.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 30 2018, @05:18PM
Yes, that's how I read it also, very misleading conclusions drawn from a limited study.
I think cardiologists have a single-minded view of the human body--all that matters to them is the heart-lung system, everything else is someone else's problem (or ignored completely). For one example, consider their long term prescription of anti-coagulants (Warfarin) to heart patients, who then suffer internal bleeds which can be just as fatal as a clot in the heart. I talked to a neuro-surgeon once who complained bitterly about this practice, a large fraction of his patients with destructive brain bleeds had been on warfarin for many years.