Dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals, are consumed by their users with the expectation that their lives will not only be healthier but longer as well. Do supplements really promote longevity?
Not according to a study by investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA. They analyzed the responses to questionnaires completed by 10,758 Americans who: were participants in the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
This survey was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics from 1971 through 1975. Between 1982 and 1984 surviving participants were reinter viewed, Vital statistics were available through 1987 for 96% of the participants.
At the same time of their first interview, 22.5% of the participants used supplements regularly and 10% reported irregular use. The risk of death for those who reported supplement use at the first and follow up interview 10 years Tater was Similar to the risk for those who did not use supplements: At either interview.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 29, 1993
