Are There Any Benefits to Multivitamins?

 Half of all American adults—including 70 percent of those age 65 and older—take a multivitamin. John Hopkins researchers reviewed evidence about supplements, including three very recent studies:

• An analysis of research involving 450,000 people, which found that multivitamins did not reduce risk for heart disease or cancer.

• A study that tracked the mental functioning and multivitamin use of 5,947 men for 12 years found that multivitamins did not reduce risk for mental declines such as memory loss or slowed-down thinking.

• A study of 1,708 heart attack survivors who took a high-dose multivitamin or placebo for up to 55 months. Rates of later heart attacks, heart surgeries and deaths were similar in the two groups.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Is a daily vitamin necessary? The researchers concluded that multivitamins don’t reduce the risk for heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline (such as memory loss and slowed-down thinking) or an early death. They also noted that in prior studies, vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements appear to be harmful, especially at high doses.

Without evidence to support the efficacy of supplements, many nutrition and public health experts say it’s best to focus on getting nutrients from your diet instead.

The exception is supplemental folic acid for women of child-bearing potential and vitamin D. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all women of reproductive age get 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. The amount of iron in a multivitamin may also be beneficial for women of child-bearing potential.

Vitamin D is another nutrient that can be hard to fulfill through diet entirely. Your body generates vitamin D when your skin is exposed to the sun, but some people may struggle to absorb enough of the vitamin through sun exposure and foods like fatty fish and beef liver.

However, excess Vitamin D can cause health issues, such as kidney stones, confusion, and vomiting.

So, who gains? Big Pharma. The local pharmacy and pharmacists will tell you that supplements will not do any harm. How can chemicals (in excess) not harm your organs? Live on vegetables and fruits, and see your body glow! Try it for 10 days! Don’t believe? Please read Daniel. 1:12.

References:

Is there really any benefit to multivitamins? John Hopkins Medicine

Are vitamins and supplements a waste of money? Stephanie Brown, www.verywellhealth.com, 28 Jun 2022