Less than four percent were smokers, and 60 percent exercised at least once a week,” HMS points out. “Compared with most people, the doctors in the study ate better diets, were more physically active, and engaged in fewer unhealthy activities. Additionally, the study only examined men ages 50 and up who led generally healthy lives. William Kormos, editor in chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch and a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. “The effect in is relatively small,” said Dr. If you currently use a supplement or are thinking about starting one, these important facts can help you determine whether or not it’s worth your while. Yet, for some, supplementation may be necessary. “My take is that unless you are supplementing a deficiency or particular health condition-less than 1 in 5 of users-then multivitamins are useless.”įor the majority of Americans, dietary supplements probably aren’t offering all of the health benefits they think they’re getting.
“When you consider that 80 percent of vitamin supplement users are taking them to optimize health and prevent disease, you realize what a big waste of money they are,” he said. Preventive Services Task Force, which concluded that vitamin supplements had no notable effect on the reduction of cancer risk. While some studies have associated multivitamin use with minor health benefits, Leech points to a 2013 review of more than 25 vitamin supplement trials conducted by the U.S. Joe Leech, R.D., founder of says most people are wasting their money on supplements. These people likely have higher incomes, exercise regularly, eat healthy diets and are well educated. Yes, vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining good health, but are supplements the best source? Most research says probably not.Īccording to experts from the National Institutes of Health, those who use vitamin or mineral supplements the most are Americans who are least likely to need them. According to a 2013 report from Harvard Medical School (HMS), about 50 percent of Americans take a daily multivitamin (the most popular type of dietary supplement), spending more than $20 billion annually to sustain the apparently healthy habit.
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