Interesting info Adam..... do you believe in a multi vitamin?
No. You do not need to supplement a regular diet at all.
There was a recent study that implicates Multi-Vitamins with various health problems and a Greater Death Risk, notably a shortening of lifespan. Further studies are coming as a result. Seems to be pretty interesting.
Vitamin supplements linked to early death
28th February 2007, 9:45 WST
Millions of people who take antioxidant supplements such as beta carotene and vitamins A and E may be putting their lives at risk rather than improving their health, according to a major review.
And a separate study has warned using supplements and complementary medicines to boost fertility may have the opposite effect.
Danish researchers suspect that by eliminating harmful free radicals in the body, anti-oxidants might interfere with essential defensive mechanisms and cause toxic reactions.
Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, doctors from Copenhagen University Hospital warn their findings contradict claims that anti-oxidant supplements improve health.
Their analysis of several studies into the effects of the supplements found vitamin A products increased the risk of death 16 per cent, while beta carotene and vitamin E increased the risk of death by 7 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.
But they said the jury was still out on whether vitamin C had a positive or negative effect on life expectancy
“Considering that 80-160 million people in North America and Europe consume these supplements, the public health consequences may be substantial,” the researchers warned. “Beta carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E, given singly or combined with other anti-oxidant supplements significantly increase mortality.”
Complementary Healthcare Council executive director Tony Lewis said it would review the findings but it appeared the research was based on high-level dosages not allowed in Australia.
“In Australia these products are regulated as medicines, so there are tight controls. The findings might not have the same relevance for us as for others,” he said.
In another shock finding, Australian fertility experts believe couples may actually be reducing their chances of having a baby by taking multivitamins and herbs.
Writing in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, they warn couples trying to have a baby to make sure they tell their doctor if they are taking alternative remedies because they can reduce the chances of conceiving.
Researcher Marcin Stankiewicz, from the Flinders Medical Centre, said he did not want to deter couples from using alternative therapies but it was important to document their use so doctors could study the effects on conception.
Dr Roger Hart, a reproductive medicine specialist at the University of WA and medical director of the Fertility Specialists of WA, said while the value of taking folate before conception to prevent birth defects was well known, the benefits of other complementary medicines remained unproved.
