Study Warns of Harm Caused by Multivitamins on Older Women

A study by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland warned of higher death risks among older women taking multivitamins.

The report identified multivitamins, folic acid, vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc, copper and iron as increasing mortality risks for females. The study was based on observation of 38,000 American women in their 50s and 60s who recalled the vitamins and minerals they took over the past 20 years.

The researchers, however, admitted the study failed to consider other factors such as the general physical health of the survey participants, which could have influenced the findings.

"Based on existing evidence, we see little justification for the general and widespread use of dietary supplements," BBC quoted Dr Jaako Mursu of the University of Eastern Finland.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, linked multivitamins with a 2.4 per cent higher risk of death. In the case of iron, the risk was at 3.9 per cent. A 2007 study published in the American Medical Association linked vitamin E, vitamin A and beta-carotene intake to higher rates of deaths. Another study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute connected multivitamins to higher risks for prostate cancer.

The researchers attributed the higher risks to the fact that dietary supplements do not require rigorous testing from food and drugs regulators compared to drugs. The study is expected to be criticised by vitamin manufacturers which are earning big money from their products.

In the U.S. alone, vitamin sales from pharmacies and other outlets outside Wal-Mart stores reached 3.3 billion in 2010, Bloomberg quoted SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based market research company.

"We cannot recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements as a preventive measure, at least not in a well nourished population.... Those supplements do not replace or add to the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and may cause unwanted health consequences," Bloomberg quoted University of NiS doctor Goran Bjelaovic and Copenhagen University Hospital doctor Christian Gluud. The two wrote their recommendation in an accompanying editorial to the study.