A vitamin a day… does not keep the doctor away.
In 2011, Americans spent nearly $30 billion on vitamins and supplements. This isn’t surprising since for decades, vitamins were promoted as part of a healthy regimen. But now a dissenting opinion has been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
“Most supplements do not prevent chronic disease or death, their use is not justified, and they should be avoided,” said the authors of the editorial, who included researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, a British researcher, and one of the journal’s senior editors.
Researchers also caution that taking supplements can be harmful due to their high dosage amount, particularly high doses of beta carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin A may increase chances of death.
Well, which supplements are effective? The recommendation of folic acid for childbearing and pregnant women still stands, and more research is needed on vitamin D. But everything else, according to Dr. Cynthia Mulrow, senior deputy editor of the journal and one of the authors, “We have so much information from so many studies. We don’t need a lot more evidence to put this to bed.”
Case closed.
Or is it?
The Council for Responsible Nutrition says supplements are still an option for those who do not get enough nutrition from food. According to its website, Steve Mister, president and CEO of the trade organization, says of supplements, “They have proven to be safe, and now there is the potential of additional benefits, one of the studies actually show benefit for reducing the risk of cancer and cataracts. Why wouldn’t you take a multivitamin?”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition was founded in 1973 and is based in Washington, D.C. It is the leading trade association representing dietary supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, according to its website.
S.C. Rhyne is a blogger and novelist in New York City. Follow the author on twitter @ReporterandGirl or facebook- TheReporterandTheGirl. www.SCRhyne.com