After being told for years that the best thing we can do for our health – in an instant – is to take a vitamin or food supplement, they pull the rug from under us and inform us that they could actually be doing more harm than good.
New research has resulted in scientists advising that there is little evidence to suggest that the pills do any good and that some may actually be causing serious harm. I bet that makes you feel great when you think about the amount you’ve taken over the years?
But here comes the worst of it, the study of 39,000 people has found multivitamins, vitamin B, folic acid, iron, magnesium and copper all increased the statistical risk of premature death.
Yes, they may only be small percentages but they’re still an increased risk.
The scientists have yet to discover why they increase the risk of premature death, but they may interfere with the body’s natural defences.
Jaakko Mursu, from the University of Eastern Finland, said: ‘Based on existing evidence, we see little justification for the general and widespread use of dietary supplements.
‘We recommend that they be used with strong medically-based cause, such as symptomatic nutrient deficiency disease.’
Other experts have claimed that most of the people were most likely taking the supplements for underlying health problems so were more likely to die early anyway.
This news certainly won’t be useful to the £675 million – a year – industry of health supplements. Will this news deter you from taking them? If not, why not?

