According to an article published by the New York Times on February 9, 2009 Multivitamins may not live up to consumers’ expectations. The study focused on women taking Multivitamins after menopause hoping that it would reduce their chance of heart disease and cancer.
Researchers found that the supplements had no effect on the risk for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, heart attack, stroke, blood clots or mortality.
An article published on Yahoo Health today points out that folic acid may be needed by pregnant women, and also points out the benefits that multivitamins can bring to people who do not get the nutrients from the food they consume such as individuals who are strictly vegetarians, heavy drinkers, an people who are in a low caloric diet:
And multivitamins are beneficial for some entire groups of people:
- those on a very-low-calorie weight-loss diet
- strict vegetarians
- heavy alcohol drinkers
- individuals who are not getting an adequate diet because they are too sick or too poor–or live by themselves and are unable to prepare proper meals for themselves
The bottom line?
If you have a healthy, balanced diet and consume foods from all food groups chances are you do not need Multivitamins. You should check with your doctor and see what he or she advices you. In the meantime keep a healthy diet, exercise and subscribe to The Workout Blog.
Photograph by: nickwheeleroz. Creative Commons License.
