On February 9, 2009, the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study, “Multivitamin Use and Risk of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease in the Women’s Health Initiative Cohorts,” that examined the association between multivitamin use and the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and mortality in postmenopausal women. Headed by Marian L. Neuhoser from the Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, the study followed 161,808 participants from the Women's Health Initiative. After a median follow-up of 8.0 and 7.9 years for participants in either the clinical trial or observational group, respectively, the researchers concluded there was convincing evidence that multivitamin use had little or no influence on mortality or on a postmenopausal woman’s risk of contracting common cancers and cardiovascular disease.
This study, however, has little impact on the reasons people take multivitamins. “Like all dietary supplements, multivitamins are meant to be used as part of an overall healthy lifestyle,” explains Andrew Shao (Ph.D.), vice-president, scientific and regulatory affairs of the Washington-based Council for Responsible Nutrition. “Multivitamins are not intended to guarantee the prevention of chronic diseases, like cancer.”
In reality, good health is much more complex and sound nutrition serves as one factor in achieving it. “There are any number of healthy behaviours that people practice to improve physical wellness and the overall quality of their lives,” explains Gary Leong, vice president of scientific and technical affairs at Jamieson Laboratories. “I take the position of being grateful for good, targeted research that hones in on the exact bio-systems and bio-mechanisms on which essential nutrients act. Conversely, we should not be discouraged about taking nutrient supplements because of the conclusions of epidemiological studies that lack precision and focus.”
From a real life perspective, therefore, the Neuhoser study does not change the fact that the majority of consumers benefit from taking a multivitamin. The medical establishment recommends multivitamins for anyone whose diet, lifestyle, medications or pre-existing health conditions prevent proper nutrition or nutrient absorption. In addition, research has long suggested that the nutritional value of food is declining due to compromised production standards, long-distance shipping and the practice of harvesting foods before they are ripe. It is better to satisfy such nutrient gaps over the long-term by consistently taking a multivitamin.
The landmark “Life…supplemented — Healthcare Professionals Impact Study” in 2007 found that 79 percent of U.S. physicians and 82 percent of nurses recommend dietary supplements to their patients. Nearly the same percentages of health-care professionals personally use vitamins, mineral, herbal and other supplements and at rates much higher than the general population. Their number-one stated reason for taking supplements: overall health and wellness.
There is a strong body of evidence supporting these recommendations. Health Canada continues to approve health claims for several nutrients, including calcium and folic acid. Calcium, when combined with sufficient Vitamin D, a healthy diet and regular exercise, may reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis; while folic acid, if taken prior to and during early pregnancy, helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects. In 2007, the Canadian Cancer Society recommended a maintenance dose of Vitamin D supplementation of 1,000 IU a day during the fall and winter thanks to the growing body of evidence that this sunshine vitamin reduces the risk of colorectal, breast and prostate cancers.
Even the Neuhoser team states that people who use multivitamins are likely to be healthier and engage in many healthy habits, including being more physically active, enjoying a higher fruit and vegetable intake and consuming lower amounts of fat, in addition to not smoking. “In other words,” notes Shao, “the key to good health is a commitment to an overall wellness approach and that includes daily use of a multivitamin.”
Jamieson Laboratories
Established in 1922, Jamieson Laboratories is Canada’s largest manufacturer and distributor of advanced natural health care products and a world-leading innovator in the development of proprietary formulas. All Jamieson products are produced at the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing laboratories in Windsor, Ontario. Jamieson products are exported to more than 45 countries including the United States, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore.
Council for Responsible Nutrition
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington-based trade association representing dietary supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements, CRN members also agree to adhere to voluntary guidelines for manufacturing, marketing and CRN’s Code of Ethics.
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