Vitamins, supplements do not reduce cardio disease risks – researchers
The global natural health supplements market is predicted to cross nearly US$70 billion by 2024, owing to a growing demand amid rising incidences of lifestyle diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. With consumers seeking to eliminate heart diseases, through preventive approach, multivitamins and supplements are becoming popular antidotes.
A new research is setting the record straight. Dr Joonseok Kim from University of Alabama at Birmingham and his team gathered evidence from 18 studies with more than 20 million participants to investigate associations between multivitamins and supplements, and heart diseases and stroke. According to Kim, that while studies indicated that the use of multivitamins and supplements was not associated with mortality risk from cardiovascular disease or stroke; or that said preparations were associated with a slightly lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, as observed in studies that did not account for fruit and vegetable intake and in studies conducted outside the US, still, there have been no evidences establishing that supplements can prevent heart diseases and stroke. The studies done in the US and those that factored in diet, found no statistically meaningful benefit from multivitamins and dietary supplements in curbing heart disease.
The researchers recommended patients to discuss the use of supplements with their physicians; and to eat a balanced diet and engage in exercise to improve cardiovascular health.
