Vitamin supplements aren’t magic bullets

Some 68% of Americans over 65 take a vitamin supplement—and nearly a third take four or more daily. But according to JoAnn Manson, professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Michael and Lee Bell Professor of Women’s Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, there is no conclusive evidence that any supplements prevent chronic disease in the average American.

“The enthusiasm does tend to outpace the evidence,” she told the New York Times in an April 3, 2018 article.

While most Americans get adequate vitamins from their diet, Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, said in the article that it’s reasonable to take a daily multivitamin “for insurance.” He said that clinical trials tend to underestimate the value of supplement because they don’t last long enough to show the benefits.

Read New York Times article: Older Americans Are ‘Hooked’ on Vitamins