Vitamins are good for us, so a lot of vitamins should be even better, right? Apparently, most of us think so, because about two-thirds of U.S. households purchased vitamins last year.
But the real answer is: we don’t really know.
While some studies have indicated benefits from high doses of vitamins, a review of medical research by a group of Danish researchers concludes that certain vitamin supplements do more harm than good. The review, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), covered 47 clinical trials. It concluded that people who took high doses of beta carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E had higher death rates than those who did not.
On the other hand, a group sponsored by the vitamin industry points out that many of these studies cover people with other health risk factors, such as smoking or heart disease. They call for more study of vitamin supplements among healthy people.
The Danish study found no increased risk with vitamin C, and found potential health benefits from selenium, which is marketed as a boost to the immune system.
What should you do? Instead of looking for a magic bullet, in the form of a pill, focus on the nutrients in food. There is no question, for example, that people who eat lots of vegetables (which are high in antioxidants) are healthier than those who do not. So rather than taking antioxidant supplements, put some veggies on your plate and enjoy good taste and good health.
Dr.Mike
