Read about the potential dangers of weight-loss supplements. Supplements should never be used in place of real food. Vitamins and minerals are essential to helping your body develop and function as it should. Get information on a variety of health conditions, disease prevention, and our services and programs. It's advice from our physicians delivered to you on your time. Sign up for the Health and Wellness Newsletter.
Furthermore, the nutrients in multivitamins may be derived from real foods or made synthetically, making it essential to purchase your vitamins from a reputable manufacturer. In addition to vitamins and minerals, multivitamins may contain herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids — though the amount and number of nutrients can vary.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide 7. Some studies suggest that multivitamins are correlated to a reduced risk of heart attacks and death, while others show no effects 8 , 9 , 10 , However, a more recent study revealed that among women — but not men — taking a multivitamin for more than 3 years was linked to a lower risk of dying from heart disease While some studies indicate that people who take multivitamins have a lower risk of heart disease, others have found no connection.
Overall, the evidence is mixed. Some studies suggest no effect on cancer risk, while others link multivitamin use to increased cancer risk 9 , 11 , 14 , One review examined five randomized controlled trials including 47, people. Two observational studies, one including only women and the other including both men and women, tied long-term multivitamin use to a reduced risk of colon cancer 17 , Multivitamins have been studied for several other purposes, including promoting brain function and eye health.
Several small studies examining specific populations have found that multivitamins can improve memory in older adults 20 , 21 , Multivitamins may also affect your mood. Research has not only revealed links between poor mood and nutrient deficiencies but also between nutritional supplements and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , However, other studies reveal little to no changes in mood 29, Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide One study found that taking antioxidant vitamins and minerals may slow its progression and help prevent it 32 , 33 , Furthermore, some evidence indicates that multivitamins may reduce your risk of developing cataracts, another widespread eye disease 35 , 36 , Multivitamins may help improve your memory and mood.
Although high doses of some vitamins and minerals are acceptable for some people, high amounts can be harmful. Pregnant people need to be especially careful with their vitamin A intake, as excessive intakes have been linked to congenital disabilities Despite all the research on vitamins and health, we have only a handful of rigorous scientific studies on the benefits of what Dr. Sesso calls a "true" multivitamin: a pill that provides essential vitamins and minerals at the relatively low levels that the body normally requires.
It was the first and only large-scale randomized clinical trial to test a commonly taken multivitamin like the ones most people take, containing the daily requirements of 31 vitamins and minerals essential for good health. A large group of male physicians took either a multivitamin or a placebo pill for more than a decade. The results have been mixed, with modest reductions in cancer and cataracts, but no protective effect against cardiovascular disease or declining mental function.
Is it safe? Multivitamin advocates point to the lack of any strong proof that taking a multivitamin for many years is dangerous. Sesso speaks for the optimists, who urge a wait-and-see approach. Sesso says. Researchers looked at the effect of long-term multivitamin use in healthy men on various aspects of health. Here is what they found:. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Study after study has shown that Vitamin C does little to nothing to prevent the common cold. Plus, megadoses of 2, milligrams or more can raise your risk of painful kidney stones.
For years, Vitamin B3 was promoted to treat everything from Alzheimer's to heart disease. But recent studies have called for an end to the over-prescription of the nutrient. A large study of more than 25, people with heart disease found that putting people on long-acting doses of Vitamin B3 to raise their levels of 'good', or HDL, cholesterol didn't reduce the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, or deaths.
Plus, people in the study who took the B3 supplements were more likely than those taking a placebo to develop infections, liver problems, and internal bleeding. Probiotics: Skip them - the science isn't advanced enough yet for them to have a significant benefit, and you can eat yogurt instead.
The idea behind them is simple: Support the trillions of bacteria blossoming in our gut which we know play a crucial role in regulating our health. So far, the effects of probiotics have been all over the map. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. So rather than shelling out for a pill that promises to be a cure-all, snack on a parfait.
0コメント