Vitamins, Mineral Nutrients Not Helping Heart Health

Studies show that taking multivitamins and minerals does not lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Professor Joon Seok Kim of the University of Alabama analyzed the results of 18 previous studies from 1970 to 2016. This analysis concluded that more than two million people in five countries (the US, Spain, Japan, Sweden, and Germany) had an average follow-up of 12 years.

Analysis showed that taking multivitamins and minerals could lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease slightly, but only in some studies. Multivitamins and mineral supplements have not found a significant effect in preventing heart disease.

Nutrients generally recommended for cardiovascular health, such as calcium and vitamin D, also have not found much benefit. The researchers concluded that there was no evidence that multivitamins or mineral supplements lowered the risk of stroke or other cardiovascular events, although they considered factors that could affect participants' age, sex, smoking status, and physical activity habits.

"Healthy people do not have to take multivitamins and minerals," the researchers said. "The way to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease is a proven method of controlling cholesterol, weight control and smoking cessation."

On the other hand, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a US vitamin industry organization, stressed that "Vitamins are nutritional supplements, not treatments or preventions." .

The results of the study were published in the current issue of the Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcome journal of the American Heart Association.