Are you one of the millions who pop a multi-vitamin pill daily? Then, there is some bad news for you as a new study claims it is nothing but “a waste of money” . Taking vitamins to protect against disease is a waste of money, according to new reports. The New Research claims that the millions of people taking daily doses of vitamins C and E and beta-carotene are not protecting themselves from cancer, heart problems, strokes and other potentially fatal disease.
Another six-year-long study involving over 8,000 people by a team at Nancy University in France found that those taking multi-vitamin supplements were just as likely to develop heart disease or cancer as those who took a dummy pill.
Popular multivitamin and mineral supplements are completely pointless for the majority of people on a healthy diet, Professor Brian Ratcliffe argued. He added that topping up on vitamins could occasionally prove dangerous especially if you already ate a healthy diet. Safe levels of vitamin A can easily be exceeded, for instance, by taking both multivitamin and fish oil supplements, Prof Ratcliffe said.
Research shows over 40% of us regularly take at least one vitamin or mineral supplement but will they really improve our health or are they just money down the drain? There is a ‘pill for almost every ill’ in the supplement world and for those of us lucky enough to be fighting fit, there are even more pills and potions designed to help us stay that way. But do they actually work or are they just money down the drain?
The answer to that question depends on who you are. For some, there are occasions when higher doses of certain nutrients could be beneficial. These include pregnant women or women hoping to become pregnant who may reduce the risk of neural defects in their unborn child by taking a daily folic acid supplement until the twelfth week of pregnancy. Breast feeding women and infants under the age of two can help to ensure bone strength with a daily dose of Vitamin D as can people at risk of osteoporosis who should also take a calcium supplement.
Vegans may also benefit from taking a B12 supplement to prevent anaemia. This is because B12 is found largely in animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy. A vitamin D supplement may also be necessary for some people over 65 or those who experience very little natural daylight on their skin. There is also some emerging research to suggest B group vitamins may be beneficial for those with heart disease and B6 and magnesium may help to relieve premenstrual symptoms.
