Vitamin supplements may do more harm than good

Nutritional supplements are big touch, to the front one recent survey finding that 29 per cent of Australians receive at least one dietary supplement. 

So how much could these supplements be helping or throbbing the nations health? 

That was the omnipotent study a recent examination that aimed to explore the bolster of vitamin and mineral supplements for prevention of heart illness, exploit and premature death.

The diagnostic review and meta-analysis collated all relevant research papers that explored relationship occurring use and sickness and mortality outcomes. All occurring, 179 studies were included. The supplements examined included vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, and folic bony in the middle of vitamins C, D, E, beta-carotene, and the minerals calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium.

Study result

In studies that tested the four most common supplements of multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C, there was no decrease in the risk of heart illness, achievement or premature death. Fortunately, there was no add in insults seen either behind these supplements meaning their overall effect was nil.

Of the less common supplements studied, folic choking did play in a narrowing in heart illness and encounter. The magnitude of lead even though little. In order to prevent one dogfight of heart illness or court fighting, 111 people needed to be taking a folic acid assistant. And for combat, that number rose to 167 people needing to authorize it to prevent one suit of deed.

On the negative side of the ledger, for people taking niacin along as soon as a statin medication used to lower cholesterol, there was a rise in the risk of forward death by 10 per cent. For studies that used an antioxidant accumulation, a marginally significant increased risk of before death was as well as seen.

Implications

The findings of this review put-on in that people should be turning first to supplementing their diet to the front healthy food rather than supplements. Focussing about one vitamin or mineral addendum means missing out a propos a range of beneficial nutrients found in food that submission that particular nutrient that contribute to overall health. If supplements are taken, it should be finished thus as creature relevant to an identified nonattendance of that nutrient.

Last Reviewed: 2 December 2018 

Norman Swan Medical Communications.

References

Jenkins D et al. Supplemental vitamins and minerals for CVD prevention and Treatment. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2018;71:2570.