Calling Dietary Supplements Worthless Is “Irresponsible”, Scientists Argue

Scientists at Oregon State University say the case against vitamin and mineral supplements is far from “closed” as some researchers declared recently. Last December scientists published three separate studies that said most vitamin and mineral diet supplements have “no clear benefit and may even be harmful” to well-nourished adults. The OSU researchers, however, said many types of dietary supplements fill nutritional gaps, improve general health, may help prevent chronic disease, are not harmful and are very cheap. They agreed that a balanced diet including fruits and vegetables offers the greatest health benefit, but the diet of many Americans is heavy on calories and light on nutrients. The OSU researchers and colleagues called it “irresponsible to ignore decades of nutrition research” on the benefits of dietary supplements.