This week’s discussion topic is about the relevance of multivitamins. Some popular opinions are that multivitamins can help prevent disease like cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses, but what does the science say? There is no clear answer about the effects of taking multivitamins and chronic diseases. Another popular opinion is that multivitamins fill in the nutritional gaps that we may be missing with our normal diets. This may be true for some, but research suggests most people who take multivitamins already get adequate intake from their diet (Bailey, Gahche, Lentino, Dwyer, Engel, Thomas, Betz & Sempos, 2010).
One study reviews clinical trials and observational studies to try and determine a correlation between multivitamins and chronic disease and provides an excellent break down of the problems associated with the current research (Prentice, 2007). One of these issues relates to study design, which is people who are in the study groups (people who take multivitamins) aren’t an accurate representation of the general public because they tend to be in the same demographic (older, white, college educated, healthy weight individuals). The studies that determine correlation between taking vitamins and chronic disease prevention may not consider these factors.
The people who need multivitamins the most are people who do not absorb vitamins normally or women who are pregnant ("Multivitamins," 2010). In these cases a doctor will prescribe a multivitamin and provide details on how often to take them. For most healthy people, multivitamins do nothing (Mulholland & Benford, 2007). I would recommend using your money to by fruits and vegetables instead of multivitamins.
References
Prentice, R. (2007). Clinical trials and observational studies to assess the chronic disease benefits and risks of multivitamin-multimineral supplements. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(1), 3085-3135. Retrieved from http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/1/308S.long
Bailey, R., Gahche, J., Lentino, C., Dwyer, J., Engel, J., Thomas, P., Betz, J., & Sempos, C. (2010). Dietary supplement use in the united states, 2003–2006.The Journal of Nutrition, 141(2), 261-266. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.133025
Multivitamins. (2010, September 01). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682882.html
Mulholland, C., & Benford, D. (2007). What is known about the safety of multivitamin-multimineral supplements for the generally healthy population? theoretical basis for harm. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(1), 3185-3225. Retrieved from http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/1/318S.long
One study reviews clinical trials and observational studies to try and determine a correlation between multivitamins and chronic disease and provides an excellent break down of the problems associated with the current research (Prentice, 2007). One of these issues relates to study design, which is people who are in the study groups (people who take multivitamins) aren’t an accurate representation of the general public because they tend to be in the same demographic (older, white, college educated, healthy weight individuals). The studies that determine correlation between taking vitamins and chronic disease prevention may not consider these factors.
The people who need multivitamins the most are people who do not absorb vitamins normally or women who are pregnant ("Multivitamins," 2010). In these cases a doctor will prescribe a multivitamin and provide details on how often to take them. For most healthy people, multivitamins do nothing (Mulholland & Benford, 2007). I would recommend using your money to by fruits and vegetables instead of multivitamins.
References
Prentice, R. (2007). Clinical trials and observational studies to assess the chronic disease benefits and risks of multivitamin-multimineral supplements. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(1), 3085-3135. Retrieved from http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/1/308S.long
Bailey, R., Gahche, J., Lentino, C., Dwyer, J., Engel, J., Thomas, P., Betz, J., & Sempos, C. (2010). Dietary supplement use in the united states, 2003–2006.The Journal of Nutrition, 141(2), 261-266. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.133025
Multivitamins. (2010, September 01). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682882.html
Mulholland, C., & Benford, D. (2007). What is known about the safety of multivitamin-multimineral supplements for the generally healthy population? theoretical basis for harm. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(1), 3185-3225. Retrieved from http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/1/318S.long
No comments:
Post a Comment