Multivitamins taken on daily basis don’t seem to lower the risk of developing heart disease, stroke or a variety of cancers, a new study shows. The study involved 161,808 participants in the Women's Health Initiative, a long-term effort to identify risk factors for cancer, heart disease and bone health in postmenopausal women.

 

Multivitamin users were more likely to be white, live in the western United States, have a lower body-mass index, be more physically active and have a college degree or higher as compared to those who didn’t take multivitamins.

 

The participants were followed for a period of 8 years. About 42 percent of them reported taking multivitamins. After adjusting for age, physical activity, family history of cancer and many other factors, the study found that multivitamins had no effect on the risk for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, heart attack, stroke, blood clots or mortality.

 

The research team said that a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables offers protection against damage caused by free radicals, which can harm cells, tissues and organs. But it appears that those with healthier nutrition, more active lifestyles and greater food security tend to use vitamin and mineral supplements, while those who really need them don’t take them.

 

Although this study looked only at postmenopausal women, the findings “are consistent with most previously published results,” the researchers note. Physicians continue to recommend multivitamins for people whose diets may contain nutritional gaps.