Benefits of Multivitamins Called into Question
- 10 years ago
Three recent studies have called into question how effective – if at all – multivitamin supplements are in preventing certain ailments.
Three recent studies have called into question how effective – if at all – multivitamin supplements are in preventing certain ailments.
Overall, the research groups found that the chronic disease deterring benefits of taking the pills daily ranged from negligible to nonexistent.
In one of the three, 450 thousand participants were given either multivitamins or placebos over a period of a decade.
When examined, doctors found that not only did the vitamin group not gain an upper hand against cancer, heart health, or death in general, smokers actually increased their risks of cancer due to the excess beta-carotene.
Another of the studies determined that, based on the examination of 6 thousand men, the pills offered no defense against the cognitive decline associated with aging.
The third study tracked 17 hundred heart attack survivors for over 4 and a half years and revealed they gained no extra protection against a repeat cardiac arrest when they took the multivitamins.
All three findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and accompanied by an editorial statement.
Three recent studies have called into question how effective – if at all – multivitamin supplements are in preventing certain ailments.
Overall, the research groups found that the chronic disease deterring benefits of taking the pills daily ranged from negligible to nonexistent.
In one of the three, 450 thousand participants were given either multivitamins or placebos over a period of a decade.
When examined, doctors found that not only did the vitamin group not gain an upper hand against cancer, heart health, or death in general, smokers actually increased their risks of cancer due to the excess beta-carotene.
Another of the studies determined that, based on the examination of 6 thousand men, the pills offered no defense against the cognitive decline associated with aging.
The third study tracked 17 hundred heart attack survivors for over 4 and a half years and revealed they gained no extra protection against a repeat cardiac arrest when they took the multivitamins.
All three findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and accompanied by an editorial statement.