Is taking vitamin and mineral supplements a waste of money?

Americans spend $20 billion annually on vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent diseases such as cancer and heart disease. However, recent research suggests that this money may be wasted and could even be harmful.

Dr. Lawrence Appel from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of these vitamin supplements. He even suspects that some manufacturers create such claims for profit. The study concluded that most vitamin and mineral supplements do not prevent chronic diseases, so it is better not to waste money on them.

To reach this conclusion, they conducted three studies.

In the first study, they observed 450,000 people who took vitamins long-term to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. By comparing their mortality rates, they found no significant effect from taking those supplements.

In the second study, they selected 1700 people with a history of heart disease and compared their vitamin intake over five years. They also found no significant effect.

In the third study, they used multivitamins to prevent dementia by observing 6000 people aged 65 and above. The results still showed no significant effect.

In addition, there are some side effects. Excessive intake of Vitamin E can be harmful to the body. Smokers who take beta-carotene increase their risk of developing cancer.