"Vitamin Supplements Do Not Help and May Harm" says Study

It's an even more important question than the multi-billions of dollars that are spent on it since it deals with our own health & well-being and potential longevity. The question is whether multivitamins and anti-oxidants work?

In what is certain to not be the last word on the subject, there is a strong feeling in the scientific community that they do no benefit and in fact may harm our health. In 2006, the New Scientist reported that "While vitamins may ward off disease in the test-tube, they do little to protect in everyday life."

"Evidence gathered over the last few years shows that, at best, antioxidant supplements do little or nothing to benefit our health."

"True, they knock the wind out of free-radicals in a test tube. But once inside the human body, they seem strangely powerless."

"Many scientists are concluding they are a waste of time and money. At worst they could be harmful."

Biochemist Barry Halliwell, an expert in anti-oxidants at the National University of Singapore, said supplements simply cannot mimic the effects of a healthy diet.

'Stick to flavonoid-rich foods, red wine in moderation, tea, fruits and vegetables,' he said.

Whether or not multivitamins and antioxidants are harmful is certainly in debate but much less controversial is that supplements are not a health panacea nor do they offset a poor diet. The best way to get your nutrients is to eat nutritious foods.

In February 2007, Rob Stein of the Washington Post wrote:

Supplements that millions of Americans take to stave off disease and slow the aging process do not boost longevity and appear to actually increase the risk of dying, according to the most comprehensive study of whether popular "antioxidants" help users live longer.

He was referring to an analysis of more than 232,000 people that "found no evidence that taking beta-carotene, Vitamin A or Vitamin E extends life span. In fact, the analysis indicated that the supplements increase the likelihood of dying by about 5 percent. Vitamin C and selenium appeared to have no impact — either way — on longevity."

It should be noted that representatives of the vitamin industry, as well as some other researchers, disputed the findings. The debate will continue but as noted above, to date there is no indication that proper diet can be achieved via any other method than eating a proper balanced diet.

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