Are Vitamin Supplements Really Beneficial? Experts Caution Against Excessive Use Of Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin Supplements: Dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, and probiotics, have become more popular than ever.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more than three-quarters of Americans take at least one supplement. But are all these supplements worth using?

Various studies have shown differing results. For instance, some large clinical trials have found certain vitamins, including multivitamins, to be beneficial, while emphasizing potential harm from others. Many of these supplements fall somewhere between these two extremes.

Vitamin Supplements, According to NBC News, the FDA has limited oversight over these supplements once they are marketed. After a 2018 study, California researchers expressed concerns about supplements containing potentially dangerous and unapproved substances.

The U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 categorized dietary supplements as food products. This means that supplements are not subject to the stricter regulations that govern drugs, and oversight of the safety and effectiveness of these products is largely left to the manufacturers.

Vitamin Supplements, If a company wants to sell a dietary supplement containing a substance that was not previously present in foods sold in the U.S., they must submit a “new dietary ingredient notification” to the FDA, providing the ingredient’s usage history and other safety evidence. The FDA does not confirm the efficacy of that substance but only reviews its safety.

Many of the vitamins and minerals available on the market are generally safe but may not always be effective, and the FDA only reviews products when they pose adverse side effects to consumers.

Christopher Gardner, a nutrition professor at Stanford University, says that some supplements have proven benefits, while others offer no benefits, though they are not harmful.

Vitamin Supplements, On the other hand, Dr. David S. Seres, director of the Human Nutrition Institute at Columbia University Medical Center, points out that research on the precise effects of supplements on human health is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Most of the studies we hear about are observational, meaning they show a correlation between two things but do not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Are Vitamin Supplements Really Beneficial?

More Is Not Always Better

Vitamin Supplements, Experts recommend caution when taking high doses of vitamin supplements. It’s essential to be mindful of the daily intake dosage, as high doses can be dangerous or wasteful.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group of medical experts that provides preventive care recommendations, recently stated that evidence shows vitamin D supplementation does not help prevent falls or bone fractures in older adults unless they are genuinely deficient in vitamin D.

Vitamin Supplements, Some evidence suggests that daily multivitamin intake can help prevent memory loss, but no study has shown that supplements have miraculous or tangible effects on health. A healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in plants, vegetables, and fatty fish, can reduce the risk of dementia or heart disease, while research has shown that supplements typically do not offer the same benefits.

Therefore, the best way to get vitamins is by consuming healthy, nutrient-dense foods, and supplements should only be used if individuals are deprived of access to diverse and healthy foods.

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