Northwestern University and JAMA
More than one-half of Americans take multivitamins and dietary supplements to fuel a fifty- billion dollar industry. For most of us, it is a waste of money. That is the conclusion of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and scientists at Northwestern University writing in JAMA. It says for non-pregnant, otherwise healthy people, there is not enough evidence vitamins and supplements help prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer. The new guidelines come from a review of more than eighty studies. The task force specifically recommends against taking beta carotene supplements because of a possible increased risk of lung cancer. This message is not against taking multivitamins—just that it could be a waste of money.