You can’t hide from a poor diet. People who rely on popular vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for deficiencies in daily nutrient intake are likely just wasting their money on expensive pills, a new study shows.
According to a five-year study that ran from 2012 to 2017, the most common supplements — vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, and multivitamins — surprisingly did nothing to prevent health threats like heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, strokes, or death.
“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, in a statement. “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 was published the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and examined the use of A, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, B9 (folic acid), C, D and E, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium. The only supplements that did demonstrate a small reduction in cardiovascular disease and stroke were folic acid and B-vitamins. Meanwhile, niacin and antioxidants were found to have a very small effect that could signify an increased risk of death from any cause.
“These findings suggest the 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,” Dr. Jenkins said.
This isn’t the first time that researchers found no real advantage of taking multivitamins and minerals for most people.
The bottom line: there is no shortcut to eating healthy. Instead of wasting it on supplements, keep that money in your wallet and put it toward healthier foods at the supermarket.
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