Multivitamins Increase Risk of Early Death

A comprehensive study conducted by American researchers shows that daily consumption of multivitamins not only does not help increase lifespan but may also increase the risk of early death. This research, carried out by scientists at the National Cancer Institute in the United States, examined the health of nearly 400,000 adults without serious long-term illnesses to determine the effects of multivitamins on their mortality rates over the next two decades. Contrary to expectations, individuals who regularly took multivitamins died slightly more than those who did not use these supplements during the study period. Researchers concluded that 'the use of multivitamins does not lead to improved longevity.' Dr. Erica Laughton and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland analyzed data obtained from three major health studies in the U.S. that began in the 1990s, monitoring participants' daily multivitamin use. According to Dr. Laughton, 'We found no evidence of reduced mortality risk from daily multivitamin use, and instead, a 4% higher mortality risk was observed in the early years among daily multivitamin users.' The consumption of multivitamins has increased globally among adults, with many taking them to improve their health. Previously, scientists had warned about regular multivitamin consumption, but earlier studies had conflicting results and were limited to shorter periods. These new findings, published in the JAMA Network, were conducted over a longer period with comprehensive demographic and lifestyle data to reduce the potential biases that might affect the results. Dr. Neal Barnard, a professor of medicine at George Washington University, whose opinion was published alongside this study in JAMA, states that vitamins are less beneficial than promised. Dr. Barnard recommends that instead of taking multivitamins, individuals should consume healthier foods, particularly fiber-rich nutrients, while simultaneously limiting saturated fats and high-cholesterol foods.