A new study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto suggests that the most commonly consumed vitamin and mineral supplements provide no consistent health benefit or harm, and says to rely on a "healthy" diet for vitamins and minerals.
Published yesterday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the review of existing data and single randomized control trials published in English from January 2012 to October 2017 found that multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C showed no advantage or added risk in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature 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. "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 found folic acid alone and B-vitamins with folic acid may reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, niacin and antioxidants showed a very small effect that might signify an increased risk of death from any cause, the researchers stated.
"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 health care provider," Jenkins said.
"In the absence of significant positive data—apart from folic acid's potential reduction in the risk of stroke and heart disease—it's most beneficial to rely on a healthy diet to get your fill of vitamins and minerals," Jenkins added. "So far, no research on supplements has shown us anything better than healthy servings of less processed plant foods including vegetables, fruits and nuts."
Former FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) official and current president and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA), Daniel Fabricant, responded to the study, "Supplements are important for the vast majority of Americans who do not receive the recommended daily nutrients from diet alone.
“In an ideal world, everyone would get the nutrients they need by eating a balanced diet, but unfortunately that is not the case,” Fabricant added. “While there is no magic pill just as there is no one single food providing all of your daily needs, supplementing your diet with nutritional supplements can benefit your healthy lifestyle. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has supported the use of calcium and vitamin D to help with osteoporosis, the use of folic acid supplements in pregnant women to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and fatty acid fish oils to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”
Duffy MacKay, N.D., senior vice president, scientific & regulatory affairs, CRN, also responded: “The most significant finding in this review is the beneficial role vitamin B-complex and folic acid can play in reducing the risk of stroke. Stroke is one of the leading killers in America, and thus we should feel nothing but enthusiasm for this new review which presents significant promise for advancements in the risk reduction of cardiovascular disease.
"We remind consumers that cardiovascular disease is multifactorial and cannot be prevented by dietary supplements in isolation. For consumers with, or at risk of, cardiovascular disease, we recommend prevention and treatment of the disease to be done in consultation with a doctor. However, we in the scientific and medical communities should not disregard new science that suggests the use of specific dietary supplements in combination with healthy diet and exercise could ultimately lead to improved quality of life for consumers as well as healthcare cost savings to individuals and the country.
"Given these positive findings, we are disappointed by the negative attention being given toward the most popular supplements because the research found they do not prevent cardiovascular disease. The multivitamin as well as vitamins D and C are equally beneficial for overall health and wellness. They are not intended for cardiovascular disease prevention, so we shouldn’t expect the data to demonstrate otherwise.
"There is a real-life need for dietary supplements, and the argument that Americans get all the nutrients they need from food alone is inaccurate."
For more information, visit www.npainfo.org or www.crnusa.org.
A new study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto suggests that the most commonly consumed vitamin and mineral supplements provide no consistent health benefit or harm, and says to rely on a "healthy" diet for vitamins and minerals.
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