A study review released on Wednesday from researchers in Denmark found that vitamins may not always have the health benefits intended. The research findings were published by CTV and found that some vitamins may actually increase the risk of premature death.
Researchers analysed the results of 67 clinical trials which involved a total of over 200,000 participants. Researchers discovered that anti-oxidant supplements were ineffective in reducing the risk of death in subjects.
Of all the study participants reviewed, 13.1 per cent who took the supplements died, compared to 10.5 per cent of those who took a placebo.
The supplements in the studies included beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium supplements.
Specifically, vitamin A was linked to a 14 per cent higher risk of death, compared to beta-carotene, which was linked with a 7 per cent higher chance of death. Taking vitamin E supplements was linked with a four per cent increase in risk of death.
Vitamin C and selenium supplements were not associated in the study with any increased risk of death or any detrimental health effects.
As a result of this review, scientists now believe that some vitamin supplements may, in fact, interfere with the body’s natural defensive mechanisms, rather than fortifying them, as previously believed.
The review from the Danish scientists was published in the Cochrane Library and conducted by the Cochrane Collection.