Mar 17, 2008 6:09 pm US/Eastern
Doc: Multivitamins May Cause More Harm Than Good
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Many of us don't eat as well we should, so many of reach for a daily multivitamin to fill in the gaps, but one local researcher says, not so fast -- taking daily vitamins just for the heck of it may not be such a good idea.
Dr. Harvey Simon of Harvard Medical School used to take multi-vitamins, but not anymore. "For healthy adults I can say with a good deal of confidence that they're not effective."
Writing in the Harvard Men's Health Watch, he points to research showing multi-vitamins "don't protect against heart disease or cancer."
Studies actually suggest high amounts of some vitamins may raise he risk of certain cancers. "So if we say a multivitamin doesn't provide benefit and we think there's even a possibility that it could do harm, why take it?"
For millions of Americans, including Michael Ash, the news is a hard pill to swallow. "Usually when I get up in the morning, first thing I do is take my vitamin."
Dr. Simon argues healthy adults only need a small amount of vitamins that come from foods. A bowl of cereal, he says, provides almost a full daily dose.
But many experts disagree, including Weill Cornell's Dr. Richard Rivlin. He cites earlier studies showing multi-vitamins are beneficial. "The balance of evidence really does favor the use of multivitamin supplements."
But the experts do agree that prenatal vitamins are important for pregnant women, or even women planning on conceiving, and that anyone with a particular vitamin deficiency should take supplements as directed by their doctor.
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