Millions of men across America take a multivitamin daily, but what if they’re wasting their time and money? More importantly, what if they’re putting their health at risk? The topic of multivitamins and their effectiveness, particularly for men, has been studied and debated in recent years.
Multivitamins for men and heart health
One such study, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association Cardiology, casts doubt on the benefits of multivitamins for male heart health. The study examined more than 13,000 men over 11 years and found no reduction in heart disease risk for those taking multivitamins compared to those who took a placebo. This included participants with “nutritionally challenged” diets, indicating that daily multivitamin use does not lower the risk of cardiovascular events.
Continued research is needed to evaluate the possible benefits of occasional multivitamin use for addressing nutritional shortcomings in men. Presently, their effectiveness for this purpose is unclear. Additionally, there’s rising concern that multivitamins might cause more harm than good.
Multivitamins for men and prostate cancer
Excessive multivitamin and multimineral consumption has been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. This conclusion is based on a comprehensive study that analyzed 395,344 men, all of whom were cancer-free at the beginning of the study in 1995 and 1996. Over the following five years, 10,241 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, including 8,765 men with localized disease and 1,476 with advanced prostate cancer. Another analysis was conducted over six years to evaluate mortality, discovering 179 men with fatal prostate cancer.
The researchers found no increased risk of localized prostate cancer for men who didn’t excessively use multivitamins. However, those who used them more than seven times per week faced an increased risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancers. The risk was even higher for men who took individual micronutrient supplements, such as carotene, selenium, and zinc, and high levels of multivitamins.
Addressing nutritional concerns
There are several questions and concerns regarding the vitamins we consume. Dr. Michael Cutler highlights that pharmacy shelves are filled with synthetic vitamins derived from chemical processes rather than natural, health-promoting sources. Many of these vitamins, including well-known brands, are processed at high temperatures, which can destroy their nutrient content.
Moreover, synthetic vitamins often contain only a fraction of the whole vitamin complex. For example, many popular vitamin C supplements contain only ascorbic acid, the protective outer shell of vitamin C, which is unlike the real vitamin C from fruits, vegetables, and herbs that houses eight different components.
The best way to get essential nutrients
While synthetic vitamins and minerals are not optimal in supplement form, multiple studies have demonstrated the long-term health benefits of consuming nutrients from fruits, vegetables, and other high-fiber whole foods.
One study from Harvard tracked over 120,000 men and women for up to 14 years, monitoring their heart health. They found that with each additional daily serving of fruit or vegetable, the risk of coronary heart disease decreased by 4%. Consuming the recommended nine servings per day correlates to a 36% lower heart attack rate.
Ultimately, while nutrients are undeniably valuable, the question revolves around the best method of intake. As research and studies continue, it’s crucial for individuals to evaluate their own nutritional habits and determine their optimal means of obtaining essential nutrients.
