LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Vitamins and supplements are a billion-dollar industry.
They're sold over-the-counter, and there is so much information readily available about them, it can be both confusing and arduous task trying to figure out if you need them.
So, the question we are verifying is, “Are daily multivitamins necessary?”
Our answers come from UAMS Professor Doctor Reza Hakkak, chairman of the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition and he teaches in the College of Public Health. Our second source is a series of studies published in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine done by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated one-third of Americans take a daily multivitamin. Those Americans take these multivitamins without any evidence that they actually need it. The industry is giant and goes largely unregulated by the FDA, which has little power to look into any claims made by companies that manufacture vitamins and supplements. Still, millions take them, but do they really need them? That's exactly what we asked Dr. Hakkak.
"Not really, not necessary. if you are healthy, you don't need it at all, and if you have a healthy diet, that would be a better solution," he said.
And the title of this study in the Annals of Internal Medicine backs that up, "Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements." The article found multivitamins did not reduce the risk of heart disease or cancer and did not reduce the risk of mental declines. In fact, Dr. Hakkak said too much of a good thing can, in fact, be bad.
"It can, it can, if you are taking a mega dose of those, it can," he added. “And taking those mega doses of vitamins can interfere with the absorption of other vitamins."
Dr. Hakkak said it's best to eat healthily, include lots of vegetables and fruits and low-fat meat. He also added that if you are pregnant, over age 50, have special dietary needs or medical conditions you may actually need certain vitamins. How do you know if you need it?
It is simple, ask your doctor for lab tests which check your vitamin and mineral levels. If you'd like to see the studies we're referring to, click here.