Multivitamin Researchers Say 'Case Is Closed' As Studies Find No Health Benefits

schwit1 sends this excerpt from CBS: "'Enough' with the multivitamins already. That's the message from doctors behind three new studies and an editorial that tackled an oft-debated question in medicine: Do daily multivitamins make you healthier? After reviewing the available evidence and conducting new trials, the authors have come to a conclusion of 'no.' 'We believe that the case is closed — supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful,' concluded the authors of the editorial summarizing the new research papers, published Dec. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 'These vitamins should not be used for chronic disease prevention. Enough is enough.' They went on to urge consumers to not 'waste' their money on multivitamins."

Comments

supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults

[jaymz666]

yeah, and those that don't get a balanced diet?

Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults

[vidnet]

A $12 bottle of multivitamins every two months is a heck of a lot cheaper than fresh produce

You're saying that as if the two are in any way equivalent.

Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults

[Fjandr]

They're conflating "cheaper" with "requires not being lazy."

Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults

[nblender]

I don't really mean to life-coach you or anything but the benefits you will reap from learning how to cook and cooking your own meals is enormous. Not only will you be healthier, but you will meet eligible mates at the grocery store; and you will find yourself more interesting to potential mates if you can invite them over and make an absolutely amazing meal... My dad taught me how to cook and I'm now the creative cook in the family... My son has been helping to cook since he was 8 and now that he's 12, he is in charge of one meal every week. He makes things like schnitzel, pork roast, chilli, lasagna, stroganoff, etc...

 

Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults

[ljw1004]

How do you get $4.50 ?

1 apple = 75c at Trader Joe's, 50c at local second-rate produce stall

4oz lentils (protein) = 22c at Amazon

1lb other seasonal veg = 75c

"Well Nourished"

[nurb432]

No kidding.. but for those that are not, ( which is a LOT of people.. ) vitamins can help.

Re:"Well Nourished"

[jaymz666]

exactly.

The qualifier is stupid. If you are well nourished you don't need to supplement anything. But if you aren't lucky enough to be able to have the time to prepare your own perfect meal every day, then you may need something.

Re: supplementing the diet of well-nourished adult

[jaymz666]

Time and effort is not free

Re:source?

[Jane Q. Public]

"Except that vitamins are just 'fortifying' a unhealthy diet. What difference does it make if the vitamin is in the junk food or the pill?"

But that's kind of GP's point.

This study was done on people with "no nutritional deficiencies". Yet vitamins are intended as supplements for people with nutritional deficiencies. As such, this study doesn't really show what it appears to be showing.

I mean, it's like studying the eficacy of a smallpox vaccine on a population that is never exposed to smallpox. Guess what? It's going to show no significant benefit, and even maybe a little bit of harm.

Seriously, this looks like a good candidate paper for the Journal of Irreproducible Results. That is to say: like other papers they've published, it might be valid science, but who cares?