Multivitamins may not thwart cancer, heart disease

Who could have seen this coming?

"Millions of people take a multivitamin in the hopes of averting disease, but the supplements seem to offer no defense against cancer or heart disease, researchers reported Monday.

In a study that followed more than 160,000 older U.S. women, the researchers found that the 41 percent who used multivitamins were neither less likely to develop cancer or heart disease over eight years nor to have a lower overall death rate.

About half of Americans routinely use a dietary supplement, often a multivitamin, and studies show that one of the primary motivations is the belief that supplements will protect them from chronic diseases.

However, the current findings suggest that, at least for postmenopausal women, multivitamin use "does not confer meaningful benefit or harm" when it comes to cancer and heart disease, the investigators report in the Archives of Internal Medicine."

Fitness Watch readers, that's who.

And the cause of this mass stupidity?

Here's one:

"One reason, they say, 'may be the varied health messages received by the public.' Position statements from medical organizations that multivitamins do not prevent disease are mixed with messages to take a multivitamin if dietary intake is less than optimal -- leaving the public confused, Neuhouser and her colleagues note."

Still think they have any idea of what a "healthy" supplement or food is?

Only if you are an idiot.