Home General Health Do multivitamins really help prevent heart disease?
General Health

Do multivitamins really help prevent heart disease?

blank

According to the latest study, multivitamins may be able to reduce your risk of cancer but they have no effect on heart disease. A group of researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital undertook a long term study in which they had a group of 15,000 male physicians, age 50 and over, take Centrum Silver multivitamins or a placebo every day for about 11 years. They found that the vitamins had no effect on risk of heart attack, stroke or heart disease.

In discussing the results, study leader Howard Sesso said; “The way we view this study is that there’s no obvious reason to take a daily multivitamin solely for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. But it’s perhaps narrow-minded to think that we shouldn’t take multivitamins at all considering our findings with cancer prevention.”

While the findings were disappointing in regards to heart health, the study did discover that those who took a daily multivitamin were able to lower their cancer risk by about 8%.

The study serves as a reminder that there is no quick fix to lower the risk of heart disease. In an editorial that accompanied the study Dr. Eva Lonn went on to say; “many people with heart disease risk factors…lead sedentary lifestyles, eat processed or fast foods, continue to smoke, and stop taking life-saving prescribed medications, but purchase and regularly use vitamins and other dietary supplements, in the hope that this approach will prevent a future myocardial infarction or stroke. This distraction from effective cardiovascular disease prevention is the main hazard of using vitamins and other unproven supplements.”

The best way to prevent heart disease lies mainly in lifestyle changes. Adding whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your diet, exercising regularly, and limiting smoking and alcohol consumption are still the most effective ways to cut the risk of heart attack or stroke.


Related Articles

Creatine
General HealthHealth AdvocatesHolisticLiving Healthy

Creatine: Your Brain’s New Best Friend Against Burnout

Creatine for depression and sleep deprivation is gaining attention for its potential...

ways to relieve stress and anxiety
General Health

4 All-Natural Ways To Relieve Stress and Anxiety

From using adaptogens to trying sauna therapy, discover four proven, all-natural ways...

Brain Fog
GeneralGeneral HealthLiving HealthyStress

Brain Fog Is the New Burnout — And It’s Not Just in Your Head

Brain fog causes and solutions are becoming one of the most searched...

blank
FitnessGeneral HealthHealth AdvocatesHolisticLiving Healthy

How to Stop Thinking About That One Dumb Thing You Said

There’s nothing worse than lying in bed, replaying the same 15-second interaction...