Multivitamin Researchers Say 'Case Is Closed' As Studies Find No Health Benefits 554
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."
supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:5, Insightful)
yeah, and those that don't get a balanced diet?
"Well Nourished" (Score:5, Insightful)
No kidding.. but for those that are not, ( which is a LOT of people.. ) vitamins can help.
Re:"Well Nourished" (Score:5, Insightful)
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 adults (Score:5, Insightful)
You're saying that as if the two are in any way equivalent.
"Case closed"? (Score:4, Insightful)
Though I've suspected the "multi-vitamins" myself for a while, I'm wary of any claims about "case closed" or "the science is settled"...
Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:4, Insightful)
The study isn't saying people didn't feel better. Just that it didn't help any more than a placebo. So you need to have a neighbor or someone administer them blindly and mix in fake pills and see if you notice a difference.
Also, if multivitamins helped, imagine how you would feel doing something with a ton of positive peer reviewed data backing it up, like eating a well balanced diet.
Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:5, Insightful)
They're conflating "cheaper" with "requires not being lazy."
Re: supplementing the diet of well-nourished adult (Score:5, Insightful)
Time and effort is not free
Re:Don't waste your money on vitamins - (Score:4, Insightful)
Who do you think produces all those vitamins? The pharmaceutical industry reaps enormous profits from the production and sale of vitamins.
Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:5, Insightful)
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:source? (Score:4, Insightful)
"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?
Re:The best way to make a choice about supplements (Score:4, Insightful)
If you wait until you feel sick, you may find out you waited too long. It does happen.
The problem isn't whether it's a good idea, the problem is whether it's a good value.
I agree with your sentiment 100%, but it works both ways: your doctor will ignore a serious condition, thinking that it's something more common until a crisis happens.
This has happened to me twice - the last time, I went to a doctor with symptoms specifically asking if I should refrain from going camping in the desert. He cleared me to go, and the ensuing incident was life-threatening and cost much more than it should have.
Did going to the doctor help? He specifically stated that my concerns were unfounded, because "that's really rare" - he actually said that. (Talking elliptically to keep my privacy.) I had to go to emergency services and my preventative trip to the doctor was wasted.
I get my vehicle diagnosed yearly, and have all problems fixed before they become critical. My mechanic will tell me what's wrong, show me the bad/broken part in situ, give a firm estimate for repair, and guarantee the result.
My doctor will give me an opinion ("try this, and see if it goes away").
His opinion is backed by nothing. If he's wrong, I can't even get the cost of the appointment back.
Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:5, Insightful)
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
Re:supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults (Score:4, Insightful)
Quite. There are still going to be some vitamins missing from the fortification regimen.
There is a clear quantifiable disconnect here. Either the dietary recommendations for vitamins (and minerals) is a nothing but bullsh*t or this study is.
The average diet is likely to be deficient according to government guidelines.
Re:source? (Score:4, Insightful)
"There is some evidence that taking vitamins causes several health problems, including increasing risk of cancer in certain cases."
[Emphasis mine.]
Yes. And the vast majority of the evidence you refer to applies to taking LARGE DOSES of vitamins, not the amounts in the daily supplements being discussed here, jerk.
Did YOU think much about YOUR argument? Do you know what a straw-man is? Because that's what you did.