fill potential gaps in the diet that people might have,” Dr. Sesso says. “These are compelling reasons to consider taking a multivitamin for cancer and eye disease that should be discussed with your physician.”
Findings from the multivitamin study
Physicians’ Health Study II
Researchers looked at the effect of long-term multivitamin use in healthy men on various aspects of health. Here is what they found:
- Cancer: Men were 8% less likely to be diagnosed with cancer. The protective effect was greatest in men with a history of cancer.
- Vision: Lower risk of developing cataracts.
- Cardiovascular disease: No protection against heart attacks, strokes, or death from cardiovascular disease.
- Brain: No protection against declining memory or mental skills.
- Be advised: Because of PHSII’s design, the findings on memory loss and vision are somewhat more likely to be chance findings than cancer and cardiovascular disease results.
For now, you can take certain steps:
- Ask your doctor if you have a vitamin deficiency and if you actually need to take a multivitamin.
- Assess your diet to see if anything is absent. Could you eat healthier?
- Seek a dietician for expert nutritional advice.
- Taking high doses of specific vitamins can be harmful such as A and E. Do your research!
- If you are a Medicare beneficiary, get an annual “wellness” visit with your primary care provider.
The long and the short of multivitamins is this, if after you do your research you believe you need a vitamin, then do what makes you feel best.