Doubt Cast over Supplements

February 16, 2009: 06:37 PM EST

Another study has cast doubts over the benefits of taking vitamin supplements. The latest study shows no benefit in reducing the risk of heart disease or certain cancers. Other studies have also failed to show benefits for these or other ailments. Some studies have suggested that high doses of vitamins may be harmful. Dr Eric Klein, national study coordinator for a prostate cancer trial and chairman of the Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, says “The public’s belief in the benefits of vitamins and nutrients is not supported by the available scientific data.” Diseases caused by nutrient deficiency are rare in the United States. The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a vitamin industry trade group, says that supplements aren’t “magic bullets” and consumers and researchers need to “redefine our expectations for these nutrients.” Other scientists question the value of isolating and processing individual nutrients from natural foods, saying that the benefits of a healthful diet come from eating the whole fruit or vegetable, not just the individual vitamins found in it.

Tara Parker-Pope, "Vitamin Pills: A False Hope?", February 16, 2009

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Doubt Cast over Supplements

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