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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: 2) by ledow on Wednesday May 30 2018, @12:09PM (3 children)
If you're not getting these nutrients from your diet you are malnourished.
Taking a supplement may fix that malnourishment.
Taking MORE of them when you're not already malnourished is a waste of time and money.
Eat properly. In the modern day there is no excuse for not being able to do this unless you are literally penniless.
But people take offence when I say "I didn't realise you were deliberating subjecting yourself to malnourishment that required that" when they're popping vitamins left, right and centre.
(P.S. Guideline daily amounts are AVERAGES. There's nothing wrong with blasting through your guideline for a treat. Just don't do it every day.)
(Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Wednesday May 30 2018, @01:49PM (2 children)
I'll have you know that Americans have the most vitamin enriched pee in the entire world! The best pee. The very best. Make American Pee great again! When you have other people pee for you onto a bed, be sure it is not on video tape. Believe me! Trust me, I know about videotape. I have people calling me all the time, in between McDonalds meals, um, to tell me how great genuine American pee really is. And you can have a healthy heart and eat tons of genuine American McDonalds food if you take vitamins. Viagra and Opiates are the best vitamins. The best. The very best. But people across our southern border will be peeing on our beautiful southern border wall with their non-vitamin enriched pee! Next thing other countries will begin thinking that they can have McDonalds in their country too. But I will tell you that we will keep our great American McDonalds institution strictly within America so that other nations can see how great and healthy we are from eating McDonalds and vitamins.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 30 2018, @02:58PM (1 child)
Nice. So are you the guy who has been posting as realDonaldTrump here are SN lately? Just asking.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 30 2018, @09:28PM
Nope.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.