Supplements linked to death in older women!

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:31 am

http://news.consumerreports.org/health/ ... Y=I15SMFBH

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:00 am

I'd like to see more research on this subject before we all throw out our vitamins.

Sounds like a spurious correlation, since there are so many other factors involved. For instance, why were these people taking supplements in the first place? Were there underlying medical problems?

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:25 am

Well, that sure is confusing!

(Or perhaps I lost my train of thought, as my iHerb supplements order arrived whilst I was reading.)

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:31 am

I'm highly suspect of this observational study. I do agree that taking extra iron after menopause is unecessary and could cause harm. Many older people take Centrum Senior and other drugstore low quality vitamins, which are made primarily with synthetic vitamins, and include harmful amounts of Vitamin A and others. Vitamins should not necessarily fall into a one-size-fits-all approach. But I don't think they are cutting people's lives short. There are way too many other variables involved that they could not adjust for.

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:37 am

I agree with you Zizzie and I am wondering who back this study. Could it be the big pharmaceutical companies?

Nancy

harma · Post by **harma** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:47 am

well I think there is nothing wrong with being critical with vitamin intake, more is not always better. But studies like this, how can they make you any wiser, it does not give a clue of why the died earlier, is it maybe because they had very unhealthy diet and compensated it with pills and how much did it shorten their live, a month, 6 months, a year?

Not that I have anything against like studies like this, but sometimes I think instead of worrying of what we may die of (in the end we have to die of something and one thing is sure in live, we all will die) we better spend the time we have to live our life.

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:23 pm

Sara,

And I love iherb. That's the only place I buy supplements.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:16 am

I agree that more research needs to be done before drawing any conclusions.

That said, as most of you know, the only supplement I take is vitamin D3. I have never been a fan of multivitamins. A number of times in recent years they have lowered the amount of certain vitamins/minerals in multis because of harmful side effects - think selenium and vitamin A. And now they are lowering the recommended dosages for calcium. Funny, I have never been a calcium fan either.

Since I believe my diet (paleo) is healthy and that I am getting most of what I need from real foods, I do not feel I need to supplement (except for vit. D).

However, for those who eat the "traditional" American diet (heavy on the grains/sugar/dairy and light on the produce) a multi is probably a good idea. It is also probably a good idea for those in the initial stages of MC, where gut absorption is likely impaired.

Higs,

Polly

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:54 am

Polly,

I'm grateful to you for sharing a few months back your daily intake of D3 - I upped mine quite a bit, and though my level was OK (49), it was by no means high. I am thinking of raising it a little higher for winter, as I do get a fair amount of sun during the garden season...

I am also continuing to supplement B-vites + B12, and using topical magnesium. I also take Rhodiola rosea daily, and quercetin - which seems to make a difference (fewer mast-cell suspicious signs), though I'm taking far less than the dosage on the bottle. Maybe it's a highly effective self-administered placebo... I noticed this week with my very mild glutening that I almost immediate had a repeat of what I believe are neuro symptoms (dizziness, spaciness, difficulty concentrating), and my hope is that the Bs are helping me there. I don't know whether I'll need to take them for a long time, or eventually may be able to rely on diet.

I'm awaiting results of my latest DEXA scan, at which point I'll consider my next move (if low). Not a whole lotta calcium, though - K2, maybe?

I also feel that eating Paleo not only provides great nutrition, but also avoids the 'anti-nutrition' that comes with a heavy load of grains and sugars. Plus, YUM!!

Love,
Sara

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:48 pm

women who took multivitamins or dietary supplements containing copper, folic acid, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, or zinc were more likely to have died compared with women who had not taken supplements of those nutrients.

The association between daily supplement intake and mortality risk was strongest with iron. Moreover, as women aged, the risk of death was linked with progressively lower doses.

In contrast, women who took calcium supplements had slightly better survival rates, the researchers reported, though no clear dose—response relationship was found.

It's well-known that women in menopause shouldn't take iron supplements, so the comment (highlighted in red by me) is not surprising. What's surprising is menopausal women taking iron supplements were included in the study. That definitely skewed the results.

I am one who has to take supplements in order to get adequate nutrients because my diet is very limited. I recently posted an analysis of my nutrients. Specifically, I am deficient in Vitamins A, E, C, B6, B12, thiamin, niacin, folate, calcium, zinc and potassium. I didn't evaluate copper.

I guess I need to look at that intake. My supplements provide the lacking nutrients, if not calories.

I would love to get all of my nutrients from diet, especially fruits and more vegetables, but I would get relentless D if I ate them.

Gloria