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Subscribe to RSSMultivitamins might help lower the risk for cancer in healthy older men but do not affect their chances of developing heart disease, new research suggests.
Two other studies found fish oil didn't work for an irregular heartbeat condition called atrial fibrillation, even though it is thought to help certain people with heart disease or high levels of fats called triglycerides in their blood.
The bottom line: Dietary supplements have varied effects and whether one is right for you may depend on your personal health profile, diet and lifestyle.
"Many people take vitamin supplements as a crutch," said study leader Dr. Howard Sesso of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "They're no substitute for a heart-healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, keeping your weight down," especially for lowering heart risks.
Sesso said patients who view multivitamins as a "quick fix" might neglect other efforts to improve their health.
"The danger of taking multivitamins is that it will lead you to think you can forgo other lifestyle changes," such as not smoking and maintaining a healthy diet, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, associate professor in the department of epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health.
The U.S. Physicians Health Study II monitored nearly 15,000 healthy male doctors aged 50 and older for more than 10 years. Participants were randomly assigned to take either monthly packets of Centrum Silver or fake multivitamins. After about 11 years, there were no differences between the groups in heart attacks, strokes, chest pain, heart failure or heart-related deaths.
"We found that after more than a decade, there is neither benefit nor risk," in terms of cardiovascular disease, said Dr. Howard Sesso, study author and associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Researchers reported last month that the same trial showed that a daily multivitamin reduced the men's overall risk of cancer by 8 percent.
"We still feel very comfortable with the conclusions for the cancer findings," Dr. Sesso said. "The lack of effect for cardiovascular disease versus cancer benefit isn't necessarily inconsistent. There could be a difference in mechanism of effect."
The studies were presented Monday at an American Heart Association conference in Los Angeles and the vitamin research and one fish oil study were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Multivitamins are America's favorite dietary supplement — about one-third of adults take them. Yet no government agency recommends their routine use for preventing chronic diseases, and few studies have tested them to see if they can. A leading preventive medicine task force even recommends against beta-carotene supplements, alone or with other vitamins, to prevent cancer or heart disease because some studies have found them harmful. And vitamin K can affect bleeding and interfere with some commonly used heart drugs.
Side effects were fairly similar except for more rashes among vitamin users. The National Institutes of Health paid for most of the study. Pfizer Inc. supplied the pills and other companies supplied the packaging.
The same study a few weeks ago found that multivitamins cut the chance of developing cancer by 8 percent — a modest amount and less than what can be achieved from a good diet, exercise and not smoking.
Multivitamins also may have different results in women or people less healthy than those in this study — only 4 percent smoked, for example.
The fish oil studies tested prescription-strength omega-3 capsules from several companies in two different groups of people for preventing atrial fibrillation, a fluttering, irregular heartbeat.
One from South America aimed to prevent recurrent episodes in 600 participants who already had the condition. The other sought to prevent it from developing in 1,500 people from the U.S., Italy and Argentina having various types of heart surgery, such as valve replacement. About one third of heart surgery patients develop atrial fibrillation as a complication.
Both studies found fish oil ineffective.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
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Another travesty in reporting study results. Would be nice if someone that actually has a clue writes these articles so thousands of people are not misled.
Most multi-vitamins are a waste of time. They use cheap forms of the vitamins that have very low bioavailability and very low absorption rates. Just because the label says that the capsule contains a certain amount of a given vitamin does not mean that the vitamin is actually going to make it into you system. In some cases, less than ten percent of the stated amount of a given vitamin will actually get into your system. The reality is that there is really no substitute for eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting your vitamins from their natural sources in the food you eat. A balanced diet is crucial because certain vitamins work in tandem with each other and need the other to be present for the vitamin to actually get into your system and do it's job. If you do decide to take vitamins, or need to take one due to a specific deficiency that you suffer from, always look for vitamins that are from natural sources. For example, natural vitamin C from rose hips will get into your system much better than a man made equivalent. As a general rule, if the vitamins are cheap then they are not natural. Good quality, natural vitamins are relatively expensive but to take anything else is just throwing money away.
@M Riddle,
So they are supposed to invent benefits or risks so that you will say they have "a clue??? To say that a 10+ year study of 15,000 men found no benefit and no risk is misleading????? Do you understand how badly misleading your statements are of and in themselves?
Chris,
In order to understand my statement completely, you have to have a firm understanding that not all multivitamins are created equal. Most of them contain cheap supplement forms and incorrect dosages. Some of these forms and dosages have studies and support behind them as actually being harmful long term to people. For the most part, you should not be taking a multivitamin period unless you have a severe diet deficiency, and if you are taking a multivitamin, you should be taking one that uses the correct forms of supplements at proper dosages.
Most people think that vitamin E is 'a' vitamin, when that could not be any further from the truth. Certain forms of E cancel out other forms and too much of a certain form can be extremely harmful. Take vitamin D for example and the bell curve involved with that and all cause mortality. Take a look at B3 and how nicotinic acid helps cholesterol but form many multi's use to prevent flush does not. Take a look at things like Folic Acid and what too much can do in regards to fueling cancer. Take a look at it compared to 5-MTHF, which is the form the body actually uses. Take yet another look at it with the percentage of the populations with both single and double MTHFR genetic mutations. Consider that many multi's use 100% rda of Iron, then take a look at how much Iron you get from other sources including fortified foods. Spend some time learning about iron accumulation long term.
I can go on literally for hours at to why this article is a waste of time.
none of the above is actually proven in rigorous human trials
I have been taking a multivitamin daily for 30 years. When I started, I did not think about taking it to prevent cancer or heart disease. I just take it to supplement my daily dose of vitamins and minerals because some days I can't eat as healthy as others and I feel the vitamin supplement does what it says - it supplements my daily vitamin intake.
If you want to help lower your risk of developing cancer or heart disease, there are many components to a healthy lifestyle that do this (and many which heighten your risk). Eat a health diet of protein, fruits and vegetables and legumes and you should be helping to lower your risks.
The drug companies just want people to take their expensive drugs, rather than take vitamins.
They want you to get vaccinated, too.
Teach them a lesson, and don't. Don't take vitamins. Don't go to the doctor or dentist. Don't get insurance.
Why should you be shoveling your hard-earned money at these greedy corporations?
Kippy-
Actually, vitamins are a multi-billion dollar industry, with many vitamin companies actually being subsidiaries of drug companies.
They actually really like daily vitamin users, because they can get hundreds of dollars per year out of one person, while they are healthy.
Kippyafd: "The drug companies just want people to take their expensive drugs, rather than take vitamins."
If the pharmaceutical industry has it's way, and they keep trying, you will have to get a prescription to get not only vitamins but aspirin and many other over the counter medicines
You're insane. It costs around $8-9 for a 6-month supply.
Of course, I'm not counting the opium you must be smoking to come up with that number.
-god
Okay, I'm not sure where you get your vitamins then. Or how these companies could possibly make more than 3 billion dollars per year in the US. By your math, every person in the US would have to use vitamins. Which is not the case. A multivitamin generally costs about 15 dollars for a 2-3 month supply. But also highlighted in the article was fish oil. Most people who take vitamins do not just take a multivitamin.
I do. The Walmart equivalent of Centrum Silver, 220 tablets for $8 + change.
And provide proof of that statement, while you're at it, or as far as I'm concerned you're lying. Where the hell do you idiots get off, saying "most people" this or that? People are always making stupid claims like that here. Prove it!
And stop throwing in extras... he said hundreds of dollars per year per healthy person for vitamins, which, as I said, is insane. If you agree, so are you. Or prove otherwise.
It would be nearly impossible to produce a comprehensive (double blind) study with accurate data. Even though I religiously take vitamins on a daily basis, there are a MYRIAD of other things I do not do consistently enough to produce meaningful data. Multiply that times the number of people being studied over 365 days times 15 years and expect results that are just as varied (and useless).
what?
thats the purpose of large randomized trials. All of those little things that you do or don't do in a day are cancelled out by other people's activities
You know what lowers heart risk? A VEGETARIAN/VEGAN DIET! Just like it says in the article: "They're no substitute for a heart-healthy diet...", so stop with the 1/2 lb burgers, giant brats, fries, and ice cream. You barely need to exercise with a vegan diet because the food keeps you healthy and in shape!
I know this b/c I'm a 5' 8" male from central PA who grew up in bumpkin-ville and ate all that stuff listed above. I weighed 160 lbs and had to run 3+ miles a day and work out like none other to keep that weight. Now that I've switched to a mostly vegan diet, my weight dropped to 140 lbs and is rock steady, I haven't worked out in months and look great (I've had several girls tell me so, and they aren't just friends) and feel even better!
You don't need pills and other crap to be in shape and live a long life, you just need to eat right. Plain and simple. I'm not a weird, dirty hippie either, I'm a mechanical engineer that went to Rose-Hulman and drag race on the weekends. I just opened my mind to other options and thoughts out there and RESEARCHED those thoughts to form my own conclusion and I'm loving every minute of it.
Get a clue America. Stop popping pills. It's cheaper and better for you.
I sure hope you are taking a vit. B-12 supplement.
I am to be honest. But, we should all be taking one a day. I was taking a B-12 supp. for years before I became vegan. Everyone is deficient in B-12, magnesium, and D3 no matter what your diet is.
Also, I should mention that if you do your own research on nutrition to make sure it's non-biased. I found lots of stuff out there saying vegatarian/vegan diets are bad, but then found that the person doing the research was funded by the meat corporations.
I'm really just saying, please people, open your minds. Stop being sheep and do your own research.
Humans are Omnivores, NOT Vegans...do the Biology.
yes, Darth, we are omnivores. We're omnivores because when we didn't have agriculture to give us a surplus of food, we needed the energy (food) from other animals to carry us through times of famine. Hence our k-9 teeth and ability to digest meats.
BUT, we were mostly foragers that ate fruits and veggies because they took the least amount of effort to aquire. Think about it, would you rather pick berries and apples to eat or run your butt off all day while throwing sticks and rocks to kill something that might kill you in the process? I'll surely take you up on that challenge...
We're omnivores for sure, but we're mainly vegetarians, and now that we have food surplus, we don't need the meat. Again, stop being closed-minded and do your own research, please. There's nothing stopping you from doing it, but you.
@ Spamman - I HAVE done the research, (I also have a degree in biology as well as one in pharmacy). Vegan-ism is just another crack-pot religion, (born of watching too many Disney movies).
Research has shown good evidence that the inclusion of nutrients from meat eating, including scavenging the kills of predators, was what allowed the evolution of our ancestors into H.Sapiens. If a dietary life-style wouldn't have been feasible 10,000 years ago, it probably isn't today for the majority of the people alive today. There isn't a food surplus in many parts of the world, and it will get worse in the future.
By the way, one doesn't have to run their but off, etc. to get meat...ever heard of fishing?
Well, call it what you want, but from my end, the way you're sounding is a lot like the close-minded red-necks that I live around.
But anyway, yes! You're right! I'm not denying what you're saying at all. The nutrients from meat AND fruits and veggies kept our ancestors going and occasional meat helps those in countries that don't have a food surplus get the necessary nutrients. But it's not just meat or we'd be solely carnivores. For the people with the access to food surplus (like you and me), there's no reason not to be vegetarian/vegan because we have the access to the necessary fruits and veggies to provide those nutrients.
Fishing wasn't discovered until about 40000 years ago. The oldest H. Sapien remains are 160000 years old. What did the ones between 160000-40000 BC do? Just what we're talking about, but with a strongly based vegetarian diet because it was tough to get meat, even if they were scavenging it from other predators' kills. Typically, if a predator kills something it eats a large amount of the meat either by itself, or with the help of its other members of the pack/family. So not only would there be almost nothing left for meat by scavenging, but they'd run the risk of being attacked by the predator they're scavenging off of if it was in the area of the kill since most animals protect their food. I'm not saying they didn't eat meat at all, but that it was mostly a vegetarian diet.
Lastly, if you think a vegetarian/vegan diet is a crazy religion that's dreamt up in Dinsey fairy tales, then check out this site: www.greatveganathletes.com. It works and many of the best athelets are converting to it. Also, read "The China Study" and "In Defense of Food". Then come talk to me.
"The China Study" and "In Defense of Food" indeed, there are almost as many such books as trashy ladies' novels...you can find one that says anything you want.
Most atheletes aren't known for their credentials in Physiology and Biochemistry, LOL.
As for great Vegitarians, the most famous was Adolph Hitler...you HAVE heard of him, I trust.
So...Dr Howard Sesso...study leader, receives his grant money from: AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman-LaRouche and receives lecture money from Novartis and Merck.
Follow the money people, he's just one more neutered pawn, pimping results for cash.
This expert must be living in a different world, believing we don't know a 400lb person have a better chance of having heart problems. That we don't know not eating healthy food, it might give us a better chance of medical problems. This doctor is just going to write another wasted book, telling us what we already know. How many diet books do we need on our book shelves?
I get sick of the Diabetic books, telling me to lose weight. When I've never been over-weight my entire life. Let's get studies reported on these pills the doctors give us. With these warning signs, it could effect your liver, your heart, your kidney or whatever. Where is that hero Doctor facing the FDA and drug companies head on? Instead of making these stupid studies that we already know.
Look around at the comments around you. Many people did not and do not know this. furthermore, Im sure you couldn't have predicted the reduction in cancer incidence seen in vitamin users
FYI, CoQ10 is the supplement that knowledgeable researchers recommend for the heart. There are a ton of health food claims out there, and there are a lot of cheap "Centrum" supplements out there. I've been researching nutritional supplementation for 30 years. There are a number of high quality SUPPLEMENTS (as in to supplement, not replace good nutrition) I take, in addition to eating very healthy, drinking pure water and green tea, and exercising regularly. When I get an annual checkup the doctor can't believe my blood profile and other biometrics, and folks are amazed at how young I look. Genetics plays a role of course, and tomorrow I could get run over by a truck lol.
Lots and lots of money is being made in the vitamin Market. If someone came out with a study that horse manure was good for you, people would buy it. People put too much faith in studies. Eat fruits and vegetables, there is your vitamins. Horse Manure is good for the garden though.
Vitamins are a complete waste of money. Eat right and you don't need no stinking vitamins. What a ripoff! And talk about sheep! Vitamins can't be taken separately - your body has no idea what to do with them. They just go right through you. Over use of heavy metals, like iron, magnesium and copper, build up in your bloodstream over time and poison you. Vitamins are meant to be a part of the food we eat, not a supplement. There are so many unknowns about food and how we digest it to get what our body needs. You can't just pluck out this and that and put it in a pill. Ridiculous!
If you don't like the results of this study, wait until next week...when another study will say the opposite. I'm totally disgusted and disenchanted with the "study results of the day" reporting. Then again, I'm old enough to remember when taking HRT was good for me....before it could cause cancer, and on and on and on. Sheesh.
America is in the 'sick ' business big time. Wellness is not profitable in any form . Get educated on what helps you and go for it . Less meat yes but a steak once in a while .yummy. D3 10000units per day. CQ10 , DHEA and the one thats helping me alot is resveritrol for tryglycerides
as I sit here Im realizing that most of the stuff they said was good for you 25 years ago isnt anymore .
I can't believe someone is wasting money on stuff like this. No medical type who used vitamins regularly in his practice would be dumb enough to believe a simple multivitamin would do much of anything in preventing heart disease. No doubt the Omega-3 wizards were attempting to use these oils as the only variable in their experiment, as is scientific custom- another way to learn nothing.
I've never known a single person who took vitamins to prevent heart disease. They are just supplements to assist in many areas. I can't believe how much money must have been wasted on this study. It's just like the study that says organic foods don't have more benefits that non-organic. How stupid, they only claim to have fewer pesticides.