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Can That Daily Vitamin... Kill You?

Posted By: Lloyd, Janice, "Study Flags Risk of Daily Vitamin Use Among Older Women." USA Today, ACSM Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Headlines, Oct, 2011. on 11/21/2011

A new study is finding that taking a multi-vitamin may not be so safe after all. The study examined the link between vitamin and mineral supplements and death rates among 38,772 women, average age 61.6. Women filled out questionnaires about supplement use in 1986, 1997 and 2004. Out of 15 studied supplements, seven were found to be associated with increased total mortality risk.

Among the findings:

• Use of multivitamins, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper were associated with increased risk of death.
• The link between supplement intake and death risk was strongest with iron.
• Calcium supplements were associated with reduced risk.

Does this mean we should all stop taking those daily vitamins? No, because much more research needs to be done. What is suggested is vitamins should be used for a "strong medically based cause" and not for prevention.

In other words, make sure you are deficient in the vitamin or mineral you think you need to supplement with before you pop something in your mouth. If you do have a deficiency, work with your doctor or health care professional to find out the cause instead of only treating the symptoms.