Multis Don’t Prevent Heart Disease or Cancer

In an updated recommendation on vitamin and mineral supplementation to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concludes that “current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms” of the use of multivitamins, as well as the use of single or paired nutrient supplements, for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. It does, however, recommend against the use of beta-carotene or vitamin E supplements for prevention of the diseases.

Replacing a 2003 statement, this one, published February 25, 2014, is the result of a review of evidence on the efficacy of multivitamins and mineral supplements for the prevention of these diseases in the general adult population (but not people with known nutritional deficiencies, chronic illness or hospitalization).

Dietary supplement use is common in the U.S. Data between 2007 and 2010 shows that almost half of the adult population used at least one supplement over a 30-day period, and 32 percent used a multivitamin. Many supplements are promoted to prevent disease, yet the evidence does not support this.

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