May 25, 2006 – The authors of a report commissioned by the US National Institute of Health (NIH) conclude that multivitamins and mineral supplements cannot be recommended or advised against. In their opinion, current data does not allow us to determine whether these products can help prevent any of the chronic diseases that affect Americans.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) in the United States has just taken stock of current knowledge about multivitamins and mineral supplements. A group of 13 experts first analyzed the scientific data from clinical trials published to date that aimed to assess the effectiveness of these supplements in preventing various chronic diseases. They then organized a conference during which these data were presented to the scientific community, then analyzed by experts from various backgrounds. This whole process resulted in the drafting of a preliminary report.1 containing the conclusions of the expert committee.
Half of the American population uses vitamins and minerals. The committee of experts is also concerned about the potential danger to health from overconsumption of some of these substances. He points out, in particular, that beta-carotene could increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers.
The 13 experts still recognize the benefits of some of these supplements. For example, calcium and vitamin D can help maintain bone health in postmenopausal women, while antioxidants and zinc can help fight age-related macular degeneration. Also, a daily supplement of folic acid in women, before and during pregnancy, would prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.
Experts also recommend that US authorities review regulations on vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure better product quality and more complete and reliable labeling.
Canada: an example?
Asked to comment on this report, Pierre Haddad, researcher and professor of pharmacology at the University of Montreal, pointed out that the experts of the NIH committee had not carried out a comparative assessment of the risks and benefits resulting from a vitamin and mineral supplementation. “If we only decrease the risk of cancer, macular degeneration and hip fracture in half of the American population by ten thousandths, the increased risk of lung cancer with beta-carotene in smokers becomes quite relative, ”he explains.
“Good cost-benefit analyzes might come to the conclusion that it is better to encourage the use of multivitamins and minerals,” he adds.
Pierre Haddad is delighted that the authors recommend that the American authorities better regulate the vitamin and mineral industry. Note that this recommendation amounts to suggesting that Americans follow the model adopted by Canadians within the framework of Health Canada’s new regulations on natural health products (NHP).
“With Health Canada’s new regulations on NHPs, Canada is much more avant-garde than the United States in this area,” concludes Pierre Haddad.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
Version revised on 1er June 2006.
According to Eurekalert.org.
1. State-of-the-science conference statement – Multivitamin / Mineral Supplements and Chronic Disease Prevention. National Institutes of Health, United States, 2006. [Consulté le 19 mai 2006]. http://consensus.nih.gov
