I have read in many health magazines that multivitamin pills are not as safe as we think they are. They have their own drawbacks and that is the reason one must never rely onover the counter pills. It is important to take doc's advice. Well, I wanted to ask what about the ads that we watch on television and internet on a daily basis? Do they have any relevance?

Well I'm not sure about the ads... But it is possible to get too much of some nutrients. In fact, I've read that getting too much of some things can give you the effects of eating too little. Plus, the supplements only have the forms of vitamins that have been discovered or only have Some of the important forms of the nutrients, but not all. So I've heard that it's best to get your nutrients from actual food sources.

Hi New2/Bobby,
I would be very wary of multivitamins in particular, but I also must confess that I am not a fan of supplements at all, I think they have "screwed up" in the manufacturing process, and are making supplements to much like drugs.
Check this.

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Oxford Journals
JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute
* Oxford Journals
* Medicine
* JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst
* Volume 99, Number 10
* Pp. 754-764
© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press.
ARTICLES
Multivitamin Use and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study
Karla A. Lawson, Margaret E. Wright, Amy Subar, Traci Mouw, Albert Hollenbeck, Arthur Schatzkin, Michael F. Leitzmann

Affiliations of authors: Divisions of Cancer Prevention (KAL), Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (KAL, MEW, TM, A. Schatzkin, MFL), and Cancer Control and Population Sciences (A. Subar), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; AACR, Washington, DC (AH)

Correspondence to: Karla A. Lawson, PhD, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS Ste 320, Rockville, MD 20852-7232 (e-mail: lawsonka@mail.nih.gov).

Background: Multivitamin supplements are used by millions of Americans because of their potential health benefits, but the relationship between multivitamin use and prostate cancer is unclear.

Methods: We prospectively investigated the association between multivitamin use and risk of prostate cancer (localized, advanced, and fatal) in 295344 men enrolled in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)–AARP Diet and Health Study who were cancer free at enrollment in 1995 and 1996. During 5 years of follow-up, 10241 participants were diagnosed with incident prostate cancer, including 8765 localized and 1476 advanced cancers. In a separate mortality analysis with 6 years of follow-up, 179 cases of fatal prostate cancer were ascertained. Multivitamin use was assessed at baseline as part of a self-administered, mailed food-frequency questionnaire. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by use of Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for established or suspected prostate cancer risk factors.

Results: No association was observed between multivitamin use and risk of localized prostate cancer. However, we found an increased risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancers (RR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.67 and RR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.07 to 3.66, respectively) among men reporting excessive use of multivitamins (more than seven times per week) when compared with never users. The incidence rates per 100000 person-years for advanced and fatal prostate cancers for those who took a multivitamin more than seven times per week were 143.8 and 18.9, respectively, compared with 113.4 and 11.4 in never users. The positive associations with excessive multivitamin use were strongest in men with a family history of prostate cancer or who took individual micronutrient supplements, including selenium, beta-carotene, or zinc.

Conclusion: These results suggest that regular multivitamin use is not associated with the risk of early or localized prostate cancer. The possibility that men taking high levels of multivitamins along with other supplements have increased risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancers is of concern and merits further evaluation.


CONTEXT AND CAVEATS

Prior knowledge

Previous epidemiologic studies have suggested that multivitamin supplement use may be associated with more rapid prostate cancer progression.

Study design

In a prospective cohort study, demographic data and information pertaining to multivitamin and individual supplement use were obtained via questionnaire; information on prostate cancer diagnosis was accessed via certified cancer registries.

Contribution

This large study was confirmatory of previous reports of an association between multivitamin use and advanced prostate cancer. It also found potential associations of various individual vitamins and mineral supplements with prostate cancer that should be investigated further.

Implications

Despite the perceived health benefits of multivitamin supplements, the risks associated with their use need to be explored further.

Limitations

Differences between heavy users of multivitamins and nonusers that may not be controlled for in a study of this type may obscure the true relationship between multivitamin use and prostate cancer.


Manuscript received September 28, 2006; revised March 9, 2007; accepted April 6, 2007



Cheers

More Bad News!!! There is some good news though and I'll post it immediately after this one!!


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Mega Multivitamin Use Risks Prostate Cancer
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By Crystal Phend, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: May 15, 2007
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Earn CME/CE credit
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BETHESDA, Md., May 15 -- Men who take multi-vitamin supplements more than once a day are twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as men who never take supplements, researchers confirmed.
Action Points

* Explain to interested men that more than daily use of multivitamin supplements does not appear to reduce their risk of prostate cancer and may even increase it.

* Caution patients that the study did not suggest that regular multivitamin use, whether occasionally or once daily, significantly increased risk of prostate cancer.

They were also at elevated risk of advanced prostate cancer compared with never users, reported Karla A. Lawson, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute here, and colleagues.

The researchers reported the outcomes of the National Institutes of Health -- AARP Diet and Health Study in the May 16 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The large, prospective investigation adds credence to the possibility of harm from antioxidant supplements as found in prior systematic reviews and meta-analyses, according to an accompanying editorial.

The findings "underscore the possibility that antioxidant supplements could have unintended consequences for our health," wrote Goran Bjelakovic, M.D., of the University of Nis, Serbia, and Christian Gluud, M.D., of the Copenhagen University Hospital.

The few previous prospective studies had suggested that multivitamin use may protect men from developing prostate cancer but speed its progression once begun, Dr. Lawson and colleagues wrote.

Because more than a third of American adults take vitamins, the researchers noted, "any association between intake of multivitamin supplements and the risk or severity of prostate cancer would have important consequences for public health," the researchers wrote.

The prospective study included 295,344 men aged 50 to 71 and free of cancer at enrollment in 1995 and 1996.

Their multivitamin use was assessed at baseline using a self-administered, food-frequency questionnaire. Five percent used multivitamins more than seven times a week; 36% took a multivitamin daily.

Among the participants, 41% reported using a one-a-day type supplement, 12% reported using a theragran type (vitamins plus iron) supplement, and 6% reported use of a stress-tab type supplement (primarily B vitamins). Half of the supplements used were multivitamins.

Outcomes were followed using subsequent questionnaires, Social Security Administration death records, and state cancer registries.

Over five years of follow-up, 10,241 developed incident prostate cancer. These cases included 8,765 localized and 1,476 advanced cancers. A separate mortality analysis found 179 cases of fatal prostate cancer over six years of follow-up.

Among the findings in a multivariate adjusted analysis, the researchers reported (more than daily use versus never users):

* No association between multivitamin use and risk of prostate cancer overall (relative risk 1.06, 95% confidence interval 0.97 to 1.17).
* No association between multivitamin use and risk of localized prostate cancer (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.14).
* Increased risk of advanced prostate cancer (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.67).
* Elevated risk of fatal prostate cancers (RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.66).
* Higher incidence rates for advanced prostate cancer (143.8 versus 113.4 per 100,000 person-years).
* Higher incidence rates for fatal prostate cancer (18.9 versus 11.4 per 100,000 person-years).

The associations were strongest in men with a family history of prostate cancer or those who took selenium, β-carotene, or zinc.

"Thus, excessive intake of certain individual micronutrients that are used in combination with multivitamins may be the underlying factor that is related to risk and not the multivitamins themselves," the researchers wrote.

Among men with prostate cancer in the family, heavy multivitamin use (more than seven times per week) more than doubled advanced prostate cancer risk (RR 2.48, 95% CI 1.45 to 4.23) and fatal prostate cancer risk (RR 16.41, 95% CI 2.62 to 102.68).

Heavy use of selenium yielded a 37% increased risk of localized prostate cancer (P=0.008 for interaction) Although based on a small sample, those who took more than seven multivitamins a week and were also taking a selenium supplement were at 5.8-fold higher risk of fatal prostate cancer than those not taking a selenium supplement (P=0.037 for interaction).

The association between heavy multivitamin use and advanced prostate cancer was somewhat modified by β-carotene use (P=0.036 for trend).

Men who used a zinc supplement in addition to heavy multivitamin use were at significantly elevated risk of fatal prostate cancer (RR 4.36, 95% CI 1.83 to 10.39 versus daily or less than daily multivitamin use).

This "could be due to nonessential, potentially harmful trace elements contained in zinc supplements, such as cadmium, a known carcinogen," the researchers said.

They noted that their study was limited by lack of information on duration of multivitamin use.

Also, they said, heavy multivitamin users were more likely to have prostate cancer screening using prostate specific antigen.

While this could have biased diagnosis of localized prostate cancer, "increased multivitamin use due to early symptoms of prostate cancer cannot account for the increased risk of fatal prostate cancer among heavy multivitamin users because the association persisted and even strengthened when we disregarded those diagnosed in the initial years of follow-up," the researchers noted.

Regardless, they concluded, "the possibility that men taking high levels of multivitamins along with other supplements have increased risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancers is of concern and merits further evaluation."

The reason why dietary intake of vitamins has been shown beneficial with mixed or negative results for supplements, editorialists Drs. Bjelakovic and Gluud suggested, may be because of differences between natural and synthetic vitamins.

"Antioxidant supplements in pills are synthetic, factory processed, and may not be safe compared with their naturally occurring counterparts," they wrote.

Or, they added, it could be that the populations they have been tested in already get their full daily requirement of vitamins and trace elements from diet. They pointed out that the American diet provides 120% of the recommended dietary allowances for beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin C, and that dietary vitamin E deficiency has never been reported in the United States.

They also suggested a possible mechanism for the negative findings: "Reactive oxygen species in moderate concentrations are essential mediators of reactions by which the body gets rid of unwanted cells. Thus, if administration of antioxidant supplements decreases free radicals, it may interfere with essential defensive mechanisms for ridding the organism of damaged cells, including those that are precancerous and cancerous."

The editorialists also suggested a need for further study, possibly including testing of supplements similar to pharmaceutical products.

The research was supported by the National Cancer Institute. Neither the researchers nor the editorialists reported information on financial conflicts of interest.



Additional source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Source reference:
Lawson KA, et al "Multivitamin Use and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the National Institutes of Health -- AARP Diet and Health Study" J Natl Cancer Inst 2007;99: 754-764.

Additional source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Source reference:
Bjelakovic G, Gluud C "Surviving Antioxidant Supplements" J Natl Cancer Inst 2007;99:742-743.

Additional Prostate Cancer Coverage
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All science should be balanced so we shouldn't "Cherry Pick" and only go for the bad papers or it would be impossible to form a balanced opinion.

Vitamins
5 Quick tips: getting the right vitamins

1. Eat a healthy diet. A multivitamin provides some insurance against deficiencies but is far less important for health than the healthy food patterns described on this website. Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and healthy oils, and low in red meat and unhealthy fats—let the Healthy Eating Pyramid be your guide.

2. Choose a daily multivitamin. A daily multivitamin is an inexpensive nutrition insurance policy. Try to take one every day.

3. Think about D. In addition to its bone health benefits, there’s growing evidence that getting some extra vitamin D can help lower the risk of colon and breast cancer. Aim for getting 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day—this likely will require an extra vitamin D pill, in addition to your multivitamin. For more information, see the vitamin D section of The Nutrition Source.

4. Say no to “megas.” In general, avoid mega-dose vitamins and mega-fortified foods. Higher doses of vitamin E may help to prevent heart disease, but in general, the amount in a standard multivitamin is enough to have health benefits. A standard multivitamin also has a day's worth of folic acid, so you should avoid foods that have high amounts of folic acid added to them. Vitamin D is an exception, as many people need more than the RDA.

5. Avoid “super” supplements. Don’t be swayed by the wild health claims of the many health supplements advertised on TV and the Internet. If they sound too good to true, you can be sure they are. Save your money for healthy food and a good vacation.
(related5Farticles.jpg)

Antioxidants: Beyond the Hype: What's the buzz around antioxidants—and what's the evidence?

Supplement Studies: Sorting Out the Confusion: How to make sense of the media hype around supplements.

Keep the Multi, Skip the Heavily Fortified Foods: Why you should keep taking a daily multivitamin but skip foods that are heavily fortified with folic acid.


The Bottom Line
A daily multivitamin is a great nutrition insurance policy. Some extra vitamin D may add an extra health boost.

Vitamin pillsTrying to follow all the studies on vitamins and health can make your head swirl. But, when it’s all boiled down, the take–home message is actually pretty simple: A daily multivitamin, and maybe an extra vitamin D supplement, is a great way to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need to be healthy. The folic acid in most multivitamins helps prevent neural tube defects in newborns; it may lower the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Vitamin D from a multivitamin or single supplement can lower the risk of colon and possibly many other cancers.

Of course, there can be too much of a good thing. It’s important not to go overboard with vitamins. While a multivitamin and a vitamin D supplement can help fill some of the gaps in a less than optimal diet, too much can be harmful. In general, stick close to standard recommended doses in a multivitamin. And since your multivitamin will likely contain all the folic acid you'll need, stay away from cereals, protein bars, and other foods that are super-fortified with folic acid.

Learn more about some of the vitamins with newly recognized or suspected roles in health and disease:
vitamin A (vitamin-a-110.jpg) folate (folate-v2.jpg)
vitamin c (vitamin-c.jpg) vitamin d (vitamin-d.jpg)
vitamin e (vitamin-e.jpg) vitamin K (vitamin-k.jpg)
Terms of Use

The aim of the Harvard School of Public Health Nutrition Source is to provide timely information on diet and nutrition for clinicians, allied health professionals, and the public. The contents of this Web site are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Web site. The information does not mention brand names, nor does it endorse any particular products

If you would like to find out more look for multivitamins are a health risk and that should turn up some papers.

Cheers

Vitamins have their perks. Personally, I take calcium pills because my bones tend to crack a lot and I can't get my calcium from milk like most people do because i'm lactose intolerant. Taking a calcium pill for me definitely improves my daily life, especially when I go to the gym where weights put heavy stress on my joints. Its definitely great because I'm on the go a lot and sometimes I just don't have the time to eat to get my daily nutrition. Yes, it is important to take the doctor's advice, but I doubt any doctor consider it an issue if my bones crack and that's where vitamins come in. They are safe as long as we don't abuse them.

Good question, i would ask a naturopath or a licensed herbologist this question.

My friend told me about a new site where you can ask any questions you have about natural health and it will be answered by a practitioner or medical doctor for free. http://www.rvita.com/rvita-answers.html

hope this helps

Hi jadehsu7,
I am a Naturopath, Herbalist and I try to present accurate research both positive and negative for all health areas.Cherry picking papers that only agree with your own bias does nobody any favours, at the end of the day they maybe wrong and if you depend to heavily on inaccuracies you could meet with a very untidy end.
This thread started off questioning the safety of multivitamin pills and according to the bulk of research there is good reason to have concerns in that area. Forget what the vitamin pushers are saying, the truth is always a casualty when it comes to making money. When someone is trying to sell you something always ask the question "What is their interest in this?" regardless of whether it's research or product.

Lefthandedlee is advertising a product but he isn't quite right when he says "weight puts a strain on the joints", what he probably meant was excessive weights put a lot of stress on the joints, research has shown weight bearing exercise mineralises the bones, and without some form of weight bearing exercise your bones do not take up minerals that strengthen them, and that is precisely why swimming is no good for osteoporosis, and divers that spend a large part of their day underwater frequently suffer from bone thinning, and often this ends their careers at an early age. Weight lifting is good for the bones providing it is not over done.

Cheers