Vitamins

Every so often I read my Adventist Review stuff that comes in my inbox. I was interested by one of the health questions and so I clicked. To my surprise I found an answer that I agree with. (I say surprising because so often Adventists push 'natural' and vegetarian as cure alls and I don't agree.) Read below and then consider consulting your doctor before taking supplements, even if they seem innocuous.

Patients with a variety of chronic diseases have not been benefited by supplements; in fact, some have been harmed by them.

In an analysis of more than 60 randomized trials involving nearly a quarter of a million persons, vitamin supplements were tested, both singly and in combinations.

In the 47 studies with the best methodology, beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E, given either singly or in combination, were associated with between a 4 to 16 percent higher mortality. Vitamin C and selenium had no effect on mortality risk.

These are relatively small risks, but they do suggest we have no basis on which to promote such supplements.