Vitamin pills don't do anything and may be harmful

[Undertoad]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/health/17well.html?em

But are vitamins worth it? In the past few years, several high-quality studies have failed to show that extra vitamins, at least in pill form, help prevent chronic disease or prolong life.

The latest news came last week after researchers in the Women’s Health Initiative study tracked eight years of multivitamin use among more than 161,000 older women. Despite earlier findings suggesting that multivitamins might lower the risk for heart disease and certain cancers, the study, published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, found no such benefit.

Last year, a study that tracked almost 15,000 male physicians for a decade reported no differences in cancer or heart disease rates among those using vitamins E and C compared with those taking a placebo. And in October, a study of 35,000 men dashed hopes that high doses of vitamin E and selenium could lower the risk of prostate cancer.

The story goes on to point out that vitamin-takers may be fortifying their tumors:

Vitamins given in high doses may also have effects that science is only beginning to understand. In a test tube, cancer cells gobble up vitamin C, and studies have shown far higher levels of vitamin C in tumor cells than are found in normal tissue.

The selling point of antioxidant vitamins is that they mop up free radicals, the damaging molecular fragments linked to aging and disease. But some free radicals are essential to proper immune function, and wiping them out may inadvertently cause harm.

In a study at the University of North Carolina, mice with brain cancer were given both normal and vitamin-depleted diets. The ones who were deprived of antioxidants had smaller tumors, and 20 percent of the tumor cells were undergoing a type of cell death called apoptosis, which is fueled by free radicals. In the fully nourished mice, only 3 percent of tumor cells were dying.

“Most antioxidants are also pro-oxidants,” said Dr. Peter H. Gann, professor and director of research in the department of pathology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “In the right context and the right dose, they may be able to cause problems rather than prevent them.”

Eat well, and don't take vitamin pills.

[Pico and ME]

Most people dont seem to know what eating well means, though. Just saying.

I hate when scientists come out with another major change about what is good for you or not. Just keeps my head spinning.

[HungLikeJesus]

That falls under the category: fixes that fail.

Senge (1990) describes “fixes that fail” as a situation in which the solution or fix to a problem is effective in the short-term, but has unforeseen long-term consequences that usually get addressed by reapplying the same fix, but with an even greater vengeance. Thus, after initial better conditions, the unintended consequences exacerbate the problem such that it not only reappears but becomes steadily worse.

[LabRat]

Whoa.

We scientists just add miniscule pieces to a very complicated puzzle. It's usually the media that takes those limited pieces blows them way the fuck out of proportion.

[Datalyss]

It's just more bullshit, IMO.

[Sundae]

I have never heard that vitamins are a cancer risk before, but even back when I was in grammar school we were taught that overdosing on vitamins (via tablets) was a bad idea, and that multivitamins were only really suitable for the very young or very old. Anyone else was recommended to determine which vitamins they were deficient in, and try as much as possible to redress this in their diet, and if not, to take those specific vitamins in a reasonable quantity.

There is a possibility my doctor may prescribe me Orlistat to aid my weight loss. In which case I will be advised to take vitamins to supplement those fat soluble ones I will lose (ie poop right out). I'm aware that these are toxic in high quantities, stored in the liver and only a small amount is needed by the body. See, I might not even get the drug and I'm already read up on it

I will admit, I have taken multivitamins myself, I certainly don't have a higher ground in the balanced diet stakes. But this news doesn't represent a 180 degree swing for me. I have never taken super-high doses of anything though.

[Datalyss]

I very srsly doubt that once daily is "overdosing."

[Sundae]

No of course not - just wasting your own money.
But I have known people deliberately overdose on Vitamin C, because they thought they were getting a cold, because they were going on a flight (something to do with jetlag I think) and as a long term strategy "just in case". Taking tablets that provide them with 5x the RDA for example.

[Pico and ME]

Its really not fair that this report comes out NOW. I am not a good pill taker. I've tried taking vitamins many times but never manage to remember to take them for more than two days in a row. So, I basically just gave up. But recently, I decide to start again along with omega 3 fish pills, because my diet has gone down the drain...basically I don't eat enough. Has to do with stress...instead of pigging out, I lose my appetite.

Its been two weeks so far and Im remembering to take them (mostly because I take them at nght). The fish pills are helping and maybe even the vitamins too, (I'm slowly coming out of a depressive fog), but I think I will only take them until I can start eating better and exercising.

[Aliantha]

The only pills we take are horseradish and garlic when we've got colds. Besides that, we don't do 'vitamins' in our house. We have a balanced diet and don't get sick very much at all. I think a good diet is way better than taking pills.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by LabRat

Whoa.

We scientists just add miniscule pieces to a very complicated puzzle. It's usually the media that takes those limited pieces blows them way the fuck out of proportion.

LabRat, I have never seen that smilie and it really made me laugh!

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

recently, I decide to start again along with omega 3 fish pills,
The fish pills are helping and maybe even the vitamins too, (I'm slowly coming out of a depressive fog), but I think I will only take them until I can start eating better and exercising.

The fish pills and a change in diet collectively lowered my cholesterol about 30 points. Stick with the fish. But note they are not all the same

[LabRat]

This is the pill I'm gonna be washing down with a vodka cran or 6 tonight.