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By Kate McHugh, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Many Americans begin their day in the same way: they brush their teeth, they get dressed, and they take their daily multivitamin. But one of those steps could be eliminated and its not brushing your teeth.
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Today, at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nutrition, Irwin Rosenberg, M.D., from USDA Human nutrition Research Center at Tufts University in Boston, Mass., reported the daily multivitamin more than 60 percent of Americans have come to incorporate into their daily routine may not being providing all of the health benefits expected. In fact, in some cases, they could be doing more harm than good. His results come from National Institutes of Health studies conducted last year.
The term multivitamin is a relatively undefined term, incorporating any combination of vitamins greater than two. Dr. Rosenberg said there are more than 1,000 variations of the multivitamin and almost no scientific evidence to suggest the clinical recommendation of supplementing ones diet with one.
Of the 60 percent of Americans who take a multivitamin, 50 percent say they are taking the vitamins to increase their energy levels. However, Dr. Rosenberg told Ivanhoe, This is a goal which is absolutely unestablished by any scientific approach.
Dr. Rosenberg said the average vitamin consumer has a higher level of education, is thin and lean and, in general, follows a healthier diet than the general population. He reports these outside influences have a greater influence on the positive health effects traditionally associated with vitamin use, not the multivitamins themselves.
However, Dr. Rosenberg did say studies of individual vitamins provide more conclusive evidence.
Within some studies or subgroups of the study population, there is encouraging evidence of health benefits, such as bone mineral density and decreased risk of fracture in postmenopausal women given calcium and vitamin D supplements, Dr. Rosenberg told Ivanhoe. He also reported an increased risk of lung cancer with beta carotene use among smokers.
He continued to say there is some scientific evidence supporting the supplementation of folic acid among women contemplating pregnancy and B-12 among the elderly.
SOURCE: The 48th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nutrition, Sept. 27-30 in Orlando, Fla.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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