Multivitamin supplements do not reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in men and should only be taken if a patient’s nutritional status warrants it, say US researchers.
The 13-year study into 14,461 men aged over 50 years, randomised to receive either a multivitamin or placebo, found a non-significant difference of 1% between the two groups in the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Patients were excluded if they reported taking anticoagulants or a history of liver cirrhosis.
There was also no difference in the risk of myocardial infarction, with only a non-significant 7% decrease in risk for those taking multivitamin compared to men on placebo.
The difference in total stroke risk between the multivitamin group, compared with the placebo group, was also non-significant between the two groups, despite a 6% increase in risk for participants taking multivitamins.
The authors concluded: ‘These data do not support multivitamin use to prevent cardiovascular disease. Whether to take a daily multivitamin mmummrequires consideration of an individual’s nutritional status.’
JAMA 2012, available online 5 November
