You can find them in the grocery store and at the pharmacy. Shelf to shelf with supplements should help the body to function better in different ways. According to a Norwegian survey from 2020, as many as seven out of ten stated that they used some form of dietary supplement. Which was a small increase from 2018. But now American researchers are going out and warning. After reviewing more than 80 studies on the team, they find little or no evidence that these vitamin supplements and minerals have any particular effect on our health. – Unfortunately, based on existing evidence, we have no basis for recommending such products. We can neither say that they work, nor that they do not. More research should be done, says John Wong in a press release. He chairs the panel called the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The panel consists of various experts in medicine and disease prevention. Are we throwing money out the window? In the United States, the population spends billions of dollars on supplements every single year. And scientists are despairing. Therefore, they have come up with new and updated guidelines for the use of such products. The hope is that Americans will listen. Researchers believe that healthy people should largely stay away from vitamin supplements. In addition, they also found that both vitamin E and beta-carotene can be directly dangerous to health. Can make patients sicker – We found no benefits from taking vitamin E. And beta-carotene can be harmful because it increases the risk of lung cancer in people who are already ill, says Michael Barry. He is the deputy chair of the medical panel. They emphasize that the new recommendations only apply to healthy people without nutritional deficiencies. They also point out that some may need vitamin D supplements, while pregnant women may need supplements in the form of folate. Pregnant women, or women trying to conceive, are advised to take the supplement called folic acid. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB scanpix – «Quick fix» Tine Sundfør is a clinical nutritionist with a doctorate in nutrition. She says the US meta-study confirms what many other studies have shown in the past. Sundfør believes that most people should be more critical about what they put in their bodies. – I think many people take supplements for safety. That one does not realize that too much of something can also be a risk. For example, excess iron in the body can help increase the risk of cancer, she tells news. In addition, she believes such products can be perceived as a “quick fix”. – Many people think that most things can be bought. If I take a supplement, I get what I need. But health is something you have to “do”. You actually have to move your body, make and eat healthy food. Sundfør’s advice is not to stuff yourself with pills you do not know if you need. If you follow the Norwegian Directorate of Health’s dietary advice, you will go a long way. Tine Sundfør thinks people are misled by the fact that such products are sold in large numbers in Norwegian pharmacies. For many, goods from pharmacies are seen as quality and medicine that will help. Photo: Private Save people are tricked Jeffrey Linder is head of internal medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is one of the researchers behind the study. Linder does not think it is nice that people have confidence in supplements. – In theory, both vitamins and minerals have effects that can reduce the development of cardiovascular disease, as well as cancer. And eating fruits and vegetables is immediately associated. It is reasonable to believe that important vitamins and minerals can be extracted from fruits and vegetables, and then wrapped in a pill, the researcher explains. But unfortunately this is not the case, Linder continues. – It is sad that the industry exploits that people misunderstand. This is an ambiguous point, he says. And it’s not just money that is at stake. According to the study, people’s health may also be at risk. Every time a patient’s focus is misdirected, there is a danger that he or she will not seek the right help, the researchers believe. – You waste time and money believing that a box of pills can fix the problem. One should rather focus on what is good for health, namely to exercise and eat healthy, says Linder. Safe to use? The Norwegian Directorate of Health does not have an overview of how many people in Norway buy dietary supplements each year. But from surveys it is known that there is a larger proportion among the elderly. Henriette Øien is a senior adviser in the directorate. She says there is no scientific evidence that long-term intake of nutrients from dietary supplements reduces the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. – High doses of dietary supplements or intake of several supplements that contain the same nutrients at the same time, can cause health damage, Øien tells news. Whether it is justifiable to use such products cannot be easily answered, she explains. – On a general basis, for example, taking a multivitamin daily will not pose any health risk. The Norwegian Directorate of Health’s advice on dietary supplements According to the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the vast majority get enough minerals and vitamins through ordinary food. They therefore do not need supplements. These may still need supplements: People who do not eat all types of food. Women who are planning to become pregnant should take folate, even during the first two to three months of pregnancy. All children from the age of four weeks should receive vitamin D supplements. People who have been shown to be deficient in nutrients should take supplements. People who have food allergies or hypersensitivity should check if they need supplements. Dietary supplements may be necessary for people with certain diagnoses or conditions when the diet is deficient, one-sided or nutrients are poorly absorbed into the body. People with low energy intake should take a multivitamin / mineral supplement. This is especially true for the elderly. People who for various reasons omit whole food groups, such as vegans, may need supplements. Excessive doses of vitamins and minerals can be harmful to the body. It is important to follow the instructions and not take more than what is written. For people who need supplements, it is important that the need is assessed in consultation with the doctor. Source: Norwegian Directorate of Health
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Do people think they are wasting money on vitamin supplements – get proof that it has an effect, say researchers – news Trøndelag
