New Study Suggests That Common Multivitamins Have no Health Benefits

An international team of researchers claims that some common multivitamins provide no real health benefits at all.

A new study conducted by an international team of researchers revealed that some common multivitamins and supplements didn’t have any measurable benefits to preventing heart diseases and sometimes had no effects at all.

In their study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the scientists reportedly reviewed 179 trials on different vitamin and mineral supplement studies conducted between 2012 and 2017.

The data from these research studies involve the impact of vitamins and minerals such as A, B1, B2, B3 or niacin, B6, B9 or folic acid, C, D, E, beta-carotene, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and selenium on decreasing the risk of heart diseases, stroke, and related deaths.

Apparently, some of these common multivitamins have no advantage or added risk at all when it comes to the prevention of the said heart-related diseases.

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“We were surprised to find so few positive effects of the most common supplements that people consume,” David Jenkins, lead author on the study, said. “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.”

However, one vitamin which seemed to work as expected was folic acid. The researchers found that acid supplements have the capability to decrease the risk of both cardiovascular disease and stroke.

“Folic acid administration and the reduction of cardiovascular disease through stroke seen in the Chinese CSPPT trial provides the only example of cardiovascular disease risk reduction by supplement use in the period following the Preventive Services Task Recommendation,” Jenkins went on to say.

“Whether these data are sufficient to change clinical practice in areas of the world where folic acid food fortification is already in place is still a matter for discussion.”

In general, the study suggests that people should not rely or focus on dietary supplements. Instead, it is still best to get the body’s needed vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet.

“These findings suggest that people should be conscious of the supplements they’re taking and ensure they’re applicable to the specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies they have been advised of by their healthcare provider,” Jenkins added.