Are Multivitamins a Waste of Money?

It's estimated that nearly 40 percent of Americans regularly take multivitamins. However, recent studies suggest that taking them may not carry any added health benefit.

Two new research papers published in the Annals of Internal Medicine focused on older adults and their intake of multivitamins with a specific emphasis in the boosting of cognitive function or reduced risk of death after a heart attack. Unfortunately, findings showed that those in control groups receiving a placebo fared no better than those taking the vitamins.

The medical journal also published a broader "metastudy" that combines several research papers that examine the vitamins' effect on cardiovascular disease and cancer via the article "Enough is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements."

The cognitive study followed a group of 6,000 male physicians aged 60 or older for a period of 12 years. Those taking high-dose multivitamins showed the same rate of cognitive decline as those taking placebos. However, their heart trial followed about 1,700 people over 50 who had suffered a heart attack, which showed that taking vitamins had no impact on whether an individual was more likely to die from stroke or heart attack.

The editorial also cites several previous trials that showed similar findings in which the study authors believe that patients would have more luck spending money on fruits, vegetables and nuts than multivitamins.

"People over time and particularly people in the United States have been led to believe that vitamin and mineral supplements will make them healthier, and they're looking for a magic pill," Cynthia Mulrow, a senior deputy editor at the journal who co-wrote the editorial said, via Reuters. "But such a pill doesn't exist."

They also suggest that some vitamin and mineral pills should be avoided as companies may play on people's anxieties as a way to purchase their products.

What do you think?