Are Vitamin Supplements a Waste Of Money?
It’s complicated. So here’s what to look for when buying supplements
A recent, widely publicised study concluded that taking a multi vitamin is probably a waste of time and money, or words to that effect. The overall verdict was that multi formulas won’t extend your life, so there’s no point in taking them.
It’s an odd conclusion to draw, because I don’t think anybody has ever claimed that the point of taking a multi is to live longer. It’s to provide any nutrients that may be lacking in the diet.
This study, published in June 2024, didn’t provide any new information. It was an analysis of three large studies that began in the 1990s and followed nearly 400,000 participants until their death, or end of study period, 20 years later.
The participants didn’t live any longer than people who didn’t bother with a multi. Which is surprising, considering the fact that, as the authors point out, people who take supplements tend to be more health conscious, better off and better educated than people who don’t take supplements. It’s known as the healthy user effect. Then again, when people get sick, they are more likely to start taking supplements — and this is known as sick user effect.
