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full screen Sales of vitamins have been increasing for several years. The question is, does anyone do any good? Archive image. Photo: Isabell Höjman/TT
Are you one of those people who take a multivitamin in the hope of a longer life? It’s completely unnecessary, according to a major new study.
The sale of vitamins is increasing and in 2022, according to the industry organization Swedish self-care, vitamins were sold for SEK 927 million in Sweden.
But do they do any good? American researchers have tried to answer that in a study. They have compiled data on vitamin intake and life expectancy for almost 400,000 healthy individuals who were followed for an average of 27 years.
No more life
When they compared people who reported taking multivitamins with those who did not, they did not find that the vitamin users lived longer. During the first 12 years of follow-up, on the contrary, there was a slightly increased risk of dying among those who took vitamins. But that difference was not significant at later follow-up.
Susanne Rautiainen Lagerström, doctor of medical science at the Karolinska Institutet, has researched the benefits of nutritional supplements and vitamins and is not surprised.
– Many studies show similar results – that multivitamin use is not linked to reduced mortality.
The study, published in Jama Network Open, is an observational study in which the participants themselves answer questions about whether they take vitamins. This means that it is difficult to know for sure what types of vitamins the participants have taken and whether the connections can be explained by other factors.
– But two large American randomized studies confirm the results. There is no convincing connection between the use of multivitamins and the prevention of cardiovascular disease and mortality, says Rautiainen Lagerström.
Can be risky
Many multivitamin supplements contain low doses similar to those we get through food and pose no danger.
– But in individual vitamin and mineral supplements, the doses can be much higher. We have to be careful with them because we don’t know all the possible harmful side effects, says Rautiainen Lagerström.
– For example, beta-carotene supplementation has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers and vitamin E supplementation has been linked to an increased risk of cerebral haemorrhage in studies.
According to the Swedish Food Agency, there is generally no need for extra vitamins unless you belong to a risk group.
Why do so many people want to take extra vitamin supplements?
– The behavior around vitamin supplements is very interesting. We are probably influenced by marketing of various kinds and what is communicated in the media. We all have a responsibility here, says Rautiainen Lagerström.
FACTS These need extra
The Swedish Food Agency’s advice on who may need vitamin and mineral supplements in addition to food:
Vitamin D: All children up to two years of age. Everyone over 75 years. Children and adults who do not eat fish and vitamin D-enriched foods (including milk products, herbal drinks, sandwich fats and cooking fat mixtures). Children and adults who wear clothing that covers the face, arms and legs or are not out in the sun during the summer.
Folic acid: Women who may become pregnant.
Vitamin B12: Vegans, who exclude all animal foods.
Source: Swedish Food Agency
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