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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: 3, Interesting) by bobthecimmerian on Wednesday May 30 2018, @11:00AM (3 children)
At age 40 I was diagnosed with persistent constipation. I was, to be crude, pooping at least once a day every day but my system was always backed up and it made me less energetic and more prone to fatigue than I should have been. I changed my eating habits to incorporate more high fiber fruits and vegetables. Now I typically have at least one apple and one tomato per day plus some mix of salads, broccoli, legumes, cucumbers, celery, berries, and so forth. It took over a month for my digestive processes to return to normal, but after they did I noticed a difference. I have more energy and need an average amount of sleep instead of the higher than average amount I previously needed. I was also prone to mild stomach aches and diarrhea, and those events are far less often and less severe now. The eating change was last fall, and I'm still doing well. I also lost about ten pounds without trying over the first few months, but the fat loss stopped (and I'm still plenty fat). It's also easier for me to muster the energy to exercise.
I had attempted a positive change in eating habits many times before, but had never stuck with it more than a week or two. Nothing would change, so I assumed the extra fruits and vegetables were not helping and went back to my previous eating habits. Now I know that at least for me it takes a long stretch for my system to return to normal. I wish I had figured all of this out thirty years earlier.
One last note: at least for me, fiber in fruits and vegetables has an affect and fiber in grains (wheat, oats, quinoa) has a weaker effect or maybe no effect.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 30 2018, @04:31PM (2 children)
So basically, when people used to say you were full of shit, they were right?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 30 2018, @05:24PM
Met a grad student once who proposed a patch with bar graph that you could stick on your forehead--it would display how full of shit your intestines were at any given time.
(Score: 2) by bobthecimmerian on Wednesday May 30 2018, @07:07PM
Yes, but to be fair I'm still figuratively full of shit even if my system is cleaned out.