Like most people, you probably have a stash of vitamin and mineral supplements in your bathroom cabinet. In fact, nearly 70 percent of people take supplements, according to the industry trade association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Fueled by an increasing focus on health and “wellness,” dietary supplements have become so popular that they’re now a $32 billion industry.
According to Science Daily: “The majority of the supplements including multivitamins, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D alone, calcium alone and iron showed no link to increased or decreased risk of death or heart health.” There are some important exceptions — namely, for pregnant women who need additional folic acid and iron and for people who have known vitamin or mineral deficiencies. “If there’s a known micronutrient deficiency, then it would behoove someone to supplement,” says Vaishnava. In other words, don’t drop your dietary supplement because of this study if you’re taking one prescribed by your physician or nutritionist.
Also, just because vitamin and mineral supplements are over-the-counter, doesn’t mean they’re always safe. As Vaishnava points out: “It’s important to understand that supplements can be harmful because they can interact with medication — at least in the cardiovascular population. Many patients take blood thinners and they are notorious for interacting with other drugs. So we are very careful in what patients are taking.