Clipping Board » Dangerous Medicinal Tonics ─ Nutrients should be moderate in the body—excessive supplementation only becomes a burden.
Author: Huang Yan, April 9, 2019
Does taking vitamins actually help? The latest research shows that vitamins provide no significant benefits for generally healthy individuals. In particular, vitamin D—if consumed excessively by those who are not deficient—may even increase the risk of cancer.
Researchers from Tufts University in the U.S. compared the intake of various nutrients with mortality rates from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. They concluded that while supplements can boost overall nutrient intake, the benefits of natural nutrients found in food do not extend to supplements.
The study surveyed nearly 27,000 Americans aged 20 and older, asking participants to self-report their use of supplements such as vitamins A and K, zinc, and others. Over 12 years of follow-up data, researchers found that these supplements provided no health benefits for healthy individuals—though they also posed no health risks. However, for those without a vitamin D deficiency, taking vitamin D supplements was linked to an increased risk of death from conditions like cancer.
The study also revealed that consuming more than 1,000 mg of calcium daily through supplements could raise cancer risk, though excessive calcium intake from food showed no such association. Calcium serves several vital functions, including building strong bones and teeth, regulating muscle contractions (including heartbeat), and ensuring proper blood clotting. Calcium deficiency can lead to rickets in children, affecting bone development, as well as osteomalacia or osteoporosis in later life. While researchers couldn’t explain why excess calcium supplements might increase cancer risk, they speculated it could be related to calcium-induced hormonal changes.
The report emphasized that nutrients like vitamin K, magnesium, zinc, and copper did provide health benefits—but only when consumed through food, not supplements. Therefore, for most people, maintaining health depends not on vitamins but on a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.
Insider reports that while the U.S. is a major consumer of vitamins, these products are not regulated by the FDA. As a result, manufacturers can add extra ingredients to pills without informing consumers, and some vitamins lack recommended dosages. Experts from Harvard’s School of Public Health warn that regardless of what’s printed on the bottle, vitamins may contain harmful substances.
The study was published in *Annals of Internal Medicine*.
Source: https://technews. tw/ 2019/ 04/ 09/ vitamin- d- and- death- risk/
Excessive Vitamin D Intake Raises Cancer Risk in Healthy Individuals
Does taking vitamins actually help? The latest research shows that vitamins provide no significant benefits for generally healthy individuals. In particular, vitamin D—if consumed excessively by those who are not deficient—may even increase the risk of cancer.
Researchers from Tufts University in the U.S. compared the intake of various nutrients with mortality rates from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. They concluded that while supplements can boost overall nutrient intake, the benefits of natural nutrients found in food do not extend to supplements.
The study surveyed nearly 27,000 Americans aged 20 and older, asking participants to self-report their use of supplements such as vitamins A and K, zinc, and others. Over 12 years of follow-up data, researchers found that these supplements provided no health benefits for healthy individuals—though they also posed no health risks. However, for those without a vitamin D deficiency, taking vitamin D supplements was linked to an increased risk of death from conditions like cancer.
The study also revealed that consuming more than 1,000 mg of calcium daily through supplements could raise cancer risk, though excessive calcium intake from food showed no such association. Calcium serves several vital functions, including building strong bones and teeth, regulating muscle contractions (including heartbeat), and ensuring proper blood clotting. Calcium deficiency can lead to rickets in children, affecting bone development, as well as osteomalacia or osteoporosis in later life. While researchers couldn’t explain why excess calcium supplements might increase cancer risk, they speculated it could be related to calcium-induced hormonal changes.
The report emphasized that nutrients like vitamin K, magnesium, zinc, and copper did provide health benefits—but only when consumed through food, not supplements. Therefore, for most people, maintaining health depends not on vitamins but on a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.
Insider reports that while the U.S. is a major consumer of vitamins, these products are not regulated by the FDA. As a result, manufacturers can add extra ingredients to pills without informing consumers, and some vitamins lack recommended dosages. Experts from Harvard’s School of Public Health warn that regardless of what’s printed on the bottle, vitamins may contain harmful substances.
The study was published in *Annals of Internal Medicine*.
Source: https://technews. tw/ 2019/ 04/ 09/ vitamin- d- and- death- risk/