Use of vitamins in the United States is generally seen as a health-promoting effort. According to Harvard Health Publications, half the physicians on the "Harvard Men's Health Watch" advisory board personally take multivitamins each day. The publication and many other public health news and education groups have promoted the use of vitamins and other supplements over the years. But experts are rethinking their position on the use of vitamins for health promotion and life expectancy.
Considerations
According to the experts at Harvard Health Publications, doctors and other health care providers have long endorsed the use of multivitamins and other nutrients based on the idea that they did no harm even if they might not be useful in prolonging longevity or promoting good health. In 2008, the university called for more studies into the use of vitamins and their effect on health problems, including breast, colon and prostate cancer. At that time, the experts suggested that men give up multivitamin use but continue vitamin D supplementation until further studies were completed.
Prevention
Researchers conducted a literature analysis of the use of vitamins and mineral supplements for the primary purpose of prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases and reported their findings in the "Annals of Internal Medicine" in September 2006. The researchers studied the outcome of 12 English-language reports of controlled-trial investigations into the use of vitamins for health prevention and life expectancy in nonpregnant individuals. The study concluded there was no proof to support the presence or absence of benefits of vitamin use for health improvement purposes. The results of vitamin use on longevity were inconclusive.
Cancer
An article published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in May 2010 indicated that women's use of multivitamins actually appeared to increase their risk of breast cancer. However, the authors stated the effect was unclear and suggested further studies be performed to clarify this risk. They reviewed the outcome of self-administered questionnaires that sought information on vitamin use from 35,329 Swedish women. On follow-up, 974 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, Multivitamin use was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of breast cancer. Vitamin use may have reduced the life expectancy of certain women.
Vitamin E
A study reported by Science Daily that was published by "Age and Ageing" in 2011 indicated that overall, use of vitamin E does not support longevity or life expectancy. Because individuals in large studies have so many variables in the aging process, the researchers narrowed their focus to men with above-average dietary intake of vitamin C who smoked less than a pack of cigarettes per day. They studied 2,284 individuals and found that using vitamin E did not extend the life span of men between age 65 and 70. But it did reduce mortality by 24 percent in men 71 years and older. The researchers suggested further age-specific studies be conducted to evaluate vitamin E use in specific age groups.
References
- "Annals of Internal Medicine"; Efficacy and Safety of Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements; H.Y. Huang, et al., September 2006
- Science Daily; Vitamin E May Increase the Life Expectancy of Males Who Have High Dietary Vitamin C Intake and Smoke Less Than a Pack Per Day; January 2011
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Vitamin D Supplementation and Total Mortality; Philippe Autier, M.D., et al., September 2007
- "CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians"; Use of Antioxidants During Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Should Be Avoided; Gabriella D'Andrea, M.D.; 2005
- Medical News Today; Multivitamin Use Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Risk; Catharine Paddock, Ph.D; March 2010
- Harvard Health Publications; It's Time to Reassess the Value, Safety of Multivitamin Use; March 2008
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