The Ugly Truth About Multivitamins

The First Study

The first study conducted had researchers randomly assign almost 6,000 male doctors over the age of sixty-five to take a daily multivitamin or a look-alike placebo pill. Researchers followed up every few years over the course of twelve years to test the health of these men, with approximately eighty-four percent taking their pills regularly. After the twelve years and multiple tests were completed, researchers discovered there was no difference in memory problems between the two groups taking the multivitamins or placebo pills. However, the same study found multivitamins might modestly reduce the risk of cancer by eight percent, and cataracts by nine percent, however, there was no improvement in brain health or function.