<a href="#topic1"><img src="https://indexed.thehealthsciencesacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SCU-Supplements_The-Health-Sciences-Academy.png" alt="" style="width: 300px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;"></a>“Some supplements linked to increased risk of death”, reads a terrifying headline in The Guardian.Of course, the moment I see something like this, my sceptic sense begins tingling…First of all, which supplements are they talking about?And even then, at what doses?So, I delved into the data to find out for you.This <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29852980">meta-analysis</a> reviewed the risks of 15 vitamin and mineral supplements:<ul><li>Vitamin A (retinol)</li><li>Beta-carotene (the body can convert this to active vitamin A)</li><li>B vitamins: B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, and B9 (folic acid)</li><li>Vitamin C</li><li>Vitamin D</li><li>Vitamin E</li><li>Calcium</li><li>Iron</li><li>Zinc</li><li>Magnesium</li><li>Selenium</li></ul>While most of these micronutrients are essential to survival, the researchers wanted to find out which of these vitamin and mineral supplements were associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality.(Ironic, I know!).So, what did they find?Could one tiny vitamin supplement really spell doom for us?Of the 15 high-dose supplements tested, a risk for all-cause mortality was found… But only for 2!For those of you taking one of the other 13 in a multivitamin, you can breathe a sigh of relief.But which supplements could be silent killers?The researchers point the finger at both vitamin B3 (niacin) and mixtures of antioxidant vitamins.<a href="https://indexed.thehealthsciencesacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SCU-Supplements_The-Health-Sciences-Academy.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://indexed.thehealthsciencesacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SCU-Supplements_The-Health-Sciences-Academy.png" alt="" style="width: 300px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;"></a>Only certain antioxidant mixes and niacin with statins showed small risks. Folic acid and B-vitamins showed benefits (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29852980">Jenkins et al., 2018</a>).Do you think I’m going to tell you to throw these supplements in the trash?At The Health Sciences Academy, we take a fine-toothed comb to the science. And in this study we find that vitamin B3 is only a risk factor when combined with a certain medicine called a statin, not on its own!Not to mention, the supposed risk for antioxidants is really low… And the meta-analysis was an “apples and pears” comparison of different antioxidant mixes without much detail, meaning we don’t even know which might be responsible, or at what dose.What do I suggest? One of the best ways to get antioxidants is to add lots of lovely greens and fruit into your diet. Studies consistently show that this is linked to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25073782">lower mortality</a>.But there are still important considerations to make when choosing supplements that are right for you or a client…Taking the wrong supplements, doses, or combinations might lower their effectiveness, waste your money, or potentially cause harm. For example, if you don’t take them right, antioxidants can become harmful pro-oxidants.You can mitigate the risk of wrong supplementary advice with our in-depth training <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thehealthsciencesacademy.org/cpd-accredited-online-course-dietary-supplements">here</a> – where we also show you how to personalise a supplemental program for each client.<h3 id="bfce4f90-2b69-4105-9f87-3756959c8d31" data-toc-id="bfce4f90-2b69-4105-9f87-3756959c8d31" style="text-align: left; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.2;">Related Training:</h3><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thehealthsciencesacademy.org/cpd-accredited-online-course-dietary-supplements">Advanced Dietary Supplements Advisor Certification</a><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thehealthsciencesacademy.org/en/course-detail/Folate-and-Genetics/38343/">Folate and Genetics</a><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://thehealthsciencesacademy.org/en/course-detail/nutrition-and-brain-performance/38446/">Nutrition and Brain Performance</a>

“Some supplements linked to increased risk of death”, reads a terrifying headline in The Guardian.

Of course, the moment I see something like this, my sceptic sense begins tingling…

Are These Supplements Killing Us?

Explore science-based articles on nutrition, health, wellness, behaviour change, clinical practice, dietary supplements, gut health, sports nutrition, menopause, and professional development.

Nutrition Blogs | Evidence-Based Health and Nutrition Articles | THSA

Discover science-based nutrition articles, research insights, clinical practice tips, and professional development resources from THSA.

Are These Supplements Killing Us?

Are These Supplements Killing Us?

Related Posts

Science Catch-up. Weight gain through plasticisers?

Science Catch-up. Low-Carb or Low-Fat For Weight Loss?

Science Catch-up. Sugar Bingeing Like Drug Abuse

Science Catch-up. Weight Gain From Inhaling Polluted Air?

The Over-40 Fertility Boom: Why the Biological Clock is Being Rewritten