Search Here

Recent studies have found that taking multivitamins and supplements yielded no significant health benefits. These products, which are not U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved, do not reduce one's risk of illnesses. Researchers have also reported that these multivitamins do not harm the body. Based on these findings, experts have stated that buying multivitamins is a waste of money. In a new study, researchers reviewed previous research examining the health benefits of taking vitamin D. The researchers concluded that there is little to no evidence that vitamin D provides health benefits.

For this study, research team composed of Dr. Mark Bolland of the University of Auckland, New Zealand and his colleagues used many different kinds of meta-analyses. The researchers reviewed data from 40 existing randomized controlled trials. Based from the findings, the researchers concluded that taking vitamin D supplements did not reduce one's risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer, or bone fractures by more than 15 percent in comparison to people from the general population. The researchers also did not find evidence that taking vitamin D supplements could reduce one's death rate by five percent or more.

Vitamin D deficiency has been tied to poor health and early death. Several studies have found that people who do not have enough vitamin D, which is most easily attainable from sunlight, have more health conditions and symptoms. However, these studies have only found correlations, which do not suggest a cause-and -effect relationship. Even though no causal relationships have been identified, one study suggested that poor health could be a contributor to vitamin D deficiency and not the other way around.

The study, "The effect of vitamin D supplementation on skeletal, vascular, or cancer outcomes: a trial sequential meta-analysis," was published in The Lancet.