A large cohort study of an Icelandic elderly population suggests that use of dietary supplements does not lead to excess nutrient consumption, but is not linked to a longer lifespan.
Obtaining the proper amounts of various vitamins and micronutrients is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. For the most part, all of these dietary requirements can be obtained from a balanced diet, but recently dietary supplements have become a popular resource for balancing dietary nutrition. Dietary supplements are especially recommended to elderly people as nutritional insufficiency is commonly seen in this age group. Supplements can go a long way towards building longer, healthier lifespans by protecting against health decline and disease caused by insufficient nutritional intake.Despite the added health benefits, use of dietary supplements increases the risk of exceeding the recommended doses for vitamins and nutrients. Previous studies reported contradicting evidence on the benefits of vitamin use; some showed evidence of improved health while others have observed a higher risk of mortality for multivitamin users compared with non-users.These reports raised safety concerns for long term multivitamin use. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition looked at dietary supplement use in an Icelandic elderly population to identify how supplement intake contributes to the risks of exceeding recommended nutritional values, and to investigate whether supplement use is associated with mortality.
This study included5764 Reykjvik residents;58% female and 42% male with an average age of 77 at the beginning of the study. Prior to the study, scientists assessed the general health of all individuals in order to account for other factors that could influence mortality. Researchers recorded the educational status, smoking patterns, alcohol consumption, degree of physical activity, and other lifestyle characteristics that have an impact on human health. Participants filled out questionnaires explaining their dietary patterns and frequency of supplement use and submitted their supplements to a registry. To calculate the nutritional content obtained for each individual, scientists looked up the nutritional contents of each specified supplement in a database and multiplied nutritional content by the frequency of weekly use.
Results indicate that 77% of study participants used at least 1 dietary supplement.The most popular vitamin was fish-liver oil, used by 55% of the participants, followed by multivitamins, used by 31% of the participants. There were very few instances where vitamin and mineral consumption exceeded the recommended daily dose; the only notable exceptions were that 22% of the participants who used B6 supplements exceeded the recommended intake, as did 14% of participants who took Zn. Overall, patterns showed that vitamin users were less likely to smoke, were more educated, consumed less alcohol, and had a lower prevalence of diabetes than non-smokers. However, no correlation was found between dietary use and hypertension. Within a 7 year period, there was a total of 1221 deaths among the registered participants, but no significant correlation was identified between the use of vitamins and mortality rates.
This study provides interesting insight into the patterns of dietary supplement intake in an elderly population. However, it didnt take into account the total nutritional value obtained from the regular diets of these individuals. Perhaps dietary supplements and nutritional content from food would actually increase the proportion of individuals whose nutrient dietary intake exceeds the recommended daily amount. Moreover, the study did not clearly state whether it only recorded the dietary supplements taken by people over the course of the study period, or whether it took into account lifelong supplement use. More studies will be needed to fully assess the benefits and dangers of dietary supplements.
Written By:Irina Sementchoukova, B.Sc
Read more here:
Dietary Supplements Do Not Affect Lifespan - Medical News Bulletin
- Dietary Supplements - Food and Drug Administration - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Easy Cooked Dog Food Recipe - Homemade Dog Food - December 30th, 2016 [December 30th, 2016]
- Supplements - iHerb.com - January 19th, 2017 [January 19th, 2017]
- Herbal supplements' illegal ingredients pose health risk, experts warn - The Guardian - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- More People Are Getting Suspicious About Their Supplementsand for Good Reason - NewBeauty Magazine (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Taiwan fungus provides anti-skin cancer supplement potential, researchers report - NutraIngredients.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Vitamin What? This Food-Based Supplement Line Might Be the Nutritional Antidote You're Looking For - MarieClaire.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Despite AAP warning, health food stores endorsed sports supplements for teens - Healio - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Jellyfish Memory Supplement Prevagen Is a Hoax, FTC Says - NBCNews.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Experts reveal hidden dangers behind supplements - Science Daily - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Top dentist claims sugary foods and supplements bad for nursing home patients' teeth - Irish Mirror - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- A Supplement Company Sued Over Research It Didn't Like And Lost - Consumerist - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Borderline products: Marketing food supplements in the UK following the glucosamine case - JD Supra (press release) - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Consumers at risk from drug ingredients in herbal food supplements - The Pharmaceutical Journal - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Lawmakers propose cutting state food benefit program - New Mexico Political Report - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Dietary supplement could improve heart health - Medical Xpress - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Lafayette business accused of selling misbranded dietary ... - The Daily Advertiser - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Inside The Ultimate Fighter: Talent, check. Alcohol, check. Food ...? - Bloody Elbow - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- ISU student-founded company offers unique nutritional supplements - Iowa State Daily - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Artefact - bespoke food supplements created by doctors and ... - PR Web (press release) - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Vitamins have unique job within the body - The Oshkosh Northwestern - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Safely Navigating the Supplement World - USA Hockey - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Ora Organic on 'Shark Tank': A Look Inside the Plant-Based Supplements - Heavy.com - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Masquelier's Grape Seed Extract as a Supplement for Vascular Health - Medical News Bulletin - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Gut bacteria determines the beneficial impacts of soy food on heart health - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Cranberry Supplements: Not Bitter, Better - WholeFoods Magazine - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Stop Taking These 10 Vitamins and Supplements and Eat These Foods Instead - The Daily Meal - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- What your family needs to know about IV vitamins - Deseret News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Supplement Pitfalls Revealed by Experts - Anti Aging News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- CRN and ACI Partner for Dietary Supplements Conference - WholeFoods Magazine - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Food supplements - Food Safety - European Commission - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Stop Taking These 10 Vitamins and Supplements and Eat These Foods Instead - Huffington Post - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- 'Amphetamine-like substance' in supplements among 2016 food alerts - Irish Times - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Amazon's private label Elements expands for first time in years with invite-only vitamins and supplements - TechCrunch - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Dog show win for Rumor is a win for food supplement company - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3 - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Dog show win is a win for food supplement company - WSAW - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Supplemental living - Star2.com - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Real or Synthetic: The Truth Behind Whole-Food Supplements - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Amazon Launches Amazon Elements Supplements | Whole Foods ... - WholeFoods Magazine - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Supplements and prescriptions: a risky combination - KOLO - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- A&H recalls several dietary supplements - KLTV.com - Tyler ... - KLTV - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Insurer denying Pasco teen with life-threatening food allergy - WTSP.com - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Sports, doping and supplements: Where do authorities, clubs and leagues stand? - NutraIngredients.com - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Kale is coming for everything you eat and then you - MarketWatch - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Know your supplements unregistered brands flood markets - DAWN.com - March 12th, 2017 [March 12th, 2017]
- How a Sports Dietitian Recommends Dietary Supplements - Nutritional Outlook - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- WWE News: Jinder Mahal talks about fast food, supplements and accusations of PED use - Sportskeeda - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Nutrigenetics, Weight Management, and Dietary Supplements - Nutritional Outlook - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- FDA Budget Cuts and Increased User Fees Are Bad for America - Morning Consult - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- All of those antioxidant supplements are a huge con - INSIDER - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Everything You Need to Know About Eating Activated Charcoal - Eater - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Botanical Supplements Market to Reach US$ 69 Bn by 2025 - Persistence Market Research - PR Newswire (press release) - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Placenta Pills: Growing trend among new moms - WTSP 10 News - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Nutrients in Food Supplements: the European Court of Justice Rules on Boundaries of National Legislation Imposing ... - Lexology (registration) - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Probiotics Conferences | Europe | Asia | USA | Middle East ... - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- 'I quit protein supplements for six weeks and put on muscle' - BBC News - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- GUEST COLUMN: Should you take dietary supplements? - Wicked Local Easton - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- UNPA launches PCQI training for dietary supplement companies - NutraIngredients-usa.com - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Vitamin Labels Are Wrong and Will Be for Years! - HuffPost - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Clarifying FDA and FTC Roles Could Strengthen Oversight and Enhance Consumer Awareness - Government Accountability Office - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Nutraceuticals could be about to become more expensive in India under GST drive - FoodNavigator-Asia.com - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Backpack meal supplements - Arkansas News - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Ghana news: Centre of Awareness clears air about food supplement ... - Graphic Online - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Backpack meal supplements - Newport Independent - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- 'Normal' bowel movements vary from person to person - Reno Gazette Journal - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- FDA urges caution about bodybuilding supplements - CT Post - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- North America Dietary Supplements Market is expected to reach USD 68.22 billion by 2025 - PR Newswire (press release) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Your vitamin D tests and supplements are probably a waste of money - Vox - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Alibaba Says Chinese Consumers Are Obsessed With Sneakers and Supplements - TheStreet.com - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- North America Dietary Supplements Market 2014-2017 & 2025 - Market is Expected to Reach USD 68.22 Billion ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Banned drugs in food supplement major challenge: FSSAI - The Statesman - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Scammers selling fake cures for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are getting away with it - The Verge - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- A Chinese vitamin MLM cult is replacing healthcare for poor Ugandans - Boing Boing - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Testosterone Wars - The Atlantic - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- FSSAI committed to robust and unambiguous standards for food supplements - Catch News - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Clinical pharmacist Carrie Beth Smith discusses dietary supplements and their role in wellness - Southeast Missourian - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Protein supplements are considered food - Burlington Times News - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Supplements & Nutrition Packaging: Food & Pharma Demand for Advanced Packaging on the Rise - Edition Truth - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Market Is Expected To Reach Over US$ 10 Bn By 2023, Expanding At A CAGR Of 7 ... - Technorati - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]