The Truth about Vitamins

Feel a cold coming on? Pop some vitamin C and zinc. Got a hangover? You may want some B12. For years, vitamins have been both a cure-all and a crutch for any poor health decisions.

And supplements are more popular than ever. Vitamin usage in the U.S. increased from 39 percent to 53 percent between 1988 and 2006 according to the American College of Physicians, resulting in an apparent $28 billion in profits in 2010.



But is this money well spent? An editorial published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine recently detailed the following information about supplemental vitamins and minerals:
Vitamins are ineffective in reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and other mortality causing illnesses.
Multivitamins were found to have no impact on cognitive ability when taken by older men (as per a typical doctor recommendation) over the course of 12 years.
Beta-carotene, vitamin E, and high doses of vitamin A actually increase ones risk of mortality.

While other B vitamins, folic acid, antioxidants, and multivitamin supplements were not found to be harmful in any way, they are reported to have “no clear benefit." The exception being vitamin D, whose benefits (or lack thereof) are still being determined. Doctors and those involved with the study are still, however, encouraging pregnant women to take folic acid supplements regularly throughout pregnancy to prevent birth defects and some have even admitted to partaking in multivitamin usage themselves [See: Physician Robert Wachter;.

It’s no surprise that doctors say a healthy diet, regular exercise, and an absence of tobacco use are the secrets to a longer life, but what do you think?

Is this information enough to get you off of your multivitamin?