Do Vitamin Supplements Help or Harm?

A large study showed more deaths in a group of women who took daily vitamins, compared with a group of women who did not. The deaths were from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The study included more than 38,000 women. Their average age was about 61. They filled out questionnaires in 1986, 1997 and 2004. Results showed more deaths in women who took multivitamins, vitamin B₆, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper. The link was strongest with iron. But the study also showed fewer deaths in women who took calcium supplements. The study was published Oct. 10 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. USA Today wrote about it Oct. 11.