Supplements and synthetic vitamins do not improve health

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

In the new work, scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed data from 277 clinical trials involving more than 992,000 people around the world.

The experts were primarily interested in the effect of taking vitamins or adhering to diets on the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, strokes, heart attacks and mortality from them.

The researchers targeted multivitamins, antioxidants, complex preparations containing vitamins B and D, folic acid, iron, calcium and omega-3-unsaturated fatty acids.

In terms of diets, experts have studied the effects of diets low in salt and "unhealthy" saturated fats. The latter are found mainly in pork, beef, palm and coconut oil.

In addition, scientists have paid attention to popular diets with a high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These healthy fats can be found in fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils.

The data obtained in the course of the work showed that only a decrease in salt in the diet and a high content of omega-3-unsaturated fatty acids have a beneficial effect on the heart, blood vessels and life expectancy in general. There was also some positive effect of vitamin B9 (folic acid).

Curiously, the most noticeable "anti-stroke" effect of folic acid intake was observed in China, where grains and cereals are not fortified with vitamin B9, as, for example, in the United States.

Thus, experts say, the apparent protective effect of folic acid does not apply to those regions where people already get a sufficient amount of this valuable substance from their regular diet.

It should be noted that scientists obtained quite unexpected results when studying the effect of calcium complexes with vitamin D on the health of blood vessels. It turned out that such a food supplement even slightly increases the risk of stroke.

However, no evidence has been found to suggest that calcium or vitamin D alone carries any health risks or benefits.

Detailed analysis showed that most dietary supplements, including the popular multivitamins, did not affect cardiovascular health or the risk of heart attacks and strokes. According to the authors, different diets are also not a lifesaver.

The panacea that people are looking for in the 'magic pill' is not hidden at all. There needs to be more attention to good nutrition and getting the nutrients needed for health from food. Scientific evidence strongly suggests that most healthy adults do not need to take any vitamins and supplementation,”notes senior study author Erin Michos in a Johns Hopkins School of Medicine press release.

The results of a study by American scientists are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.