Many people claim that they feel better if they take dietary supplements — multivitamins and minerals. They appear to attribute non-existent effects to these supplements, according to a new study published in BMJ Open.
How study conducted
To evaluate the benefits of vitamin and mineral supplements, scientists analyzed data from 21 thousand people — figures collected in 2012 as part of an extensive survey in the United States. About 5 thousand study participants took multivitamins regularly.
People answered questions about specific health problems they had. Scientists analyzed the presence of 10 chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, asthma and others), as well as 19 health problems during the year before the survey. The latter included, for example, memory impairment, infections, neurological diseases, and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. In addition, the respondents were asked how they personally assess their health.
What the study showed
Study participants who took multivitamins rated their health on average 30% better than those who did not take them. However, when scientists compared the real health of people from both groups, they did not find any difference.
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Read the article
The researchers note that this study cannot say whether taking multivitamins and minerals actually improves self-reported health. They emphasize that such an assessment is often unreliable. However, the lack of difference in health status suggests that there is likely no benefit from taking vitamin supplements.
The study authors suggest that people who regularly take vitamins and minerals attribute medicinal properties to them that have not been proven by science. In addition, these study participants may have had a more positive overall view of their health for unknown reasons.
The benefits of multivitamins and minerals remain unproven
The results of the new study are consistent with previous scientific evidence . For example, large studies have shown that taking multivitamins does not reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease. Their effect on cognitive abilities also remains questionable. For example, a study found that multivitamins did not improve cognitive performance in men, but other work showed that they may improve recall ability.