If you read the Daily Mail recently, you could be forgiven for thinking that vitamin supplements are worthless, or, in some cases possibly even dangerous. We’ve had a lot of e-mails from people who feel thoroughly confused after this latest vitamin “scare story.”

It’s true that some vitamins, when consumed in massive amounts for long periods, are not healthy. It’s also true that you could say the same thing about water, an excess of which can lead to a potentially fatal condition called hyponatraemia.

Almost 500 years ago, Paracelsus (1493-1541) wrote “Dosis facit venenum,” which means “the dose makes the poison.” Toxicologists know that virtually any part of the diet (such as water), when consumed in excess for long periods, has the potential to be toxic.

One study that’s used regularly to “bash” the use of vitamin and mineral supplements was published in The Lancet on July 6th 2002 (pages 23-33). The study showed that a combination of three vitamins (vitamin A, C and E) did not help to reduce the incidence of heart disease or cancer in people who already had the disease.

We have never claimed that vitamins or minerals can treat fatal diseases. They are, however, very important for people who are healthy and want to stay that way.

Intensive farming methods, convenience dinners and the widespread availability of refined junk food means that it’s easy to miss out on many of the important vitamins and minerals your body needs. That’s where a good basic multi-vitamin and mineral supplement can help. It acts like a bridge between what we should eat and what we actually eat.

The Daily Mail implied that vitamin toxicity is a real danger.
But the chances of having a toxic reaction to vitamin and mineral supplements is extremely unlikely unless you take a lot more tablets than you’re supposed to. Compare this with deaths attributed to drugs. A report published in the British Medical Journal (3 July 2004, pages 15-19), estimates that the number of deaths from drugs such as low dose aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen) “may turn out to be greater than 10,000 a year.”

The Daily Mail also ignores the fact that many sceptical doctors are now starting to accept that vitamin and mineral supplements are important for everyone, not just people who exercise. In a landmark article published on June 19th, 2002, The Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) announced that all adults should take vitamin supplements to help prevent chronic diseases.

Just so you don’t think we’re making it up, here’s a quote from the actual article by Dr. Robert H. Fletcher, and Dr. Kathleen M. Fairfield, both affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

“Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B6 and B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases. Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone… it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements.”

A new report released from the Council for Responsible Nutrition also shows that the use of multi-vitamins and other supplements (like calcium or folic acid) can have a big positive effect on your health.

The report is over 100 pages long, and reviews more than a decade’s worth of the most scientifically-significant studies measuring the health benefits of nutritional supplements, including antioxidants (vitamins C and E), calcium, long chain omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils), vitamin D, vitamins B-6 and B-12, and folic acid.

“While it is never too late to start incorporating supplements into a healthy lifestyle, there is compelling evidence that consistent, long-term use provides the strongest benefits,” says Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., author of the report. “Too many studies have shown that most diets - even fairly healthy ones - fall well below the Recommended Dietary Allowance for many nutrients.”

The fact of the matter is that a good basic multi-vitamin and mineral supplement (such as Protrient by Maximuscle, or VM75 by Solgar) is something that every adult should use every day, whether they’re exercising or not.

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