Vitamins 'may shorten your life'

[Mephisto_Helix]

After various factors were taken into account and a further 20 studies excluded, the researchers linked vitamin A supplements to a 16% increased risk of dying, beta-carotene to a 7% increased risk and vitamin E to a 4% increased risk. ... ha, I knew it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7349980.stm

[Just_Ice]

But tomorrow they will come out with a study that indicates the exact opposite!
It always happens!

[Mephisto_Helix]

Probably ... but I have always been suspect of 'vitamins' in tablet form.

[Gnome]

Vitamins are good for expensive urine (yes you have darker urine,ie more concentrated, after drinking vitamins). I've used some before, did absolutely nothing for me.

[phenom]

like what is good for you, what will extend your lifespan?

[EtienneK]

Since I've been drinking my daily dose of Vitamin C, I haven't become sick :D

[Alan]

Since I've been drinking my daily dose of Vitamin C, I haven't become sick :D

Get out more :p

Or just take a trip to Home Affairs. That very night I went down with flu. Got splashed by water driping in the car park so for a second I thought I might have legionnaires disease :D

[Hobagoas]

What ever happened to "everything in moderation". People live unhealthy lifestyles and think that by popping a few vitamin pills in the morning they're good to go. Eat a halfway balanced diet...fruit...veggies...go take a walk in the sun for a few minutes each day...voila...it's all you need really (Unless you live in Finland during the winter)

[psc]

What ever happened to "everything in moderation". People live unhealthy lifestyles and think that by popping a few vitamin pills in the morning they're good to go. Eat a halfway balanced diet...fruit...veggies...go take a walk in the sun for a few minutes each day...voila...it's all you need really (Unless you live in Finland during the winter)

Exactly, the body was never designed for concentrated doses of anything. Bearing (sp?) in mind most vitamins/supplements are taken on an empty stomach in lieu of a meal.

[gregmcc]

There's so many so called scientists out there - one day they day X is good for you, the next day the say X will kill you and Y is good for you. I don't believe any of the hype. Just use common sense when taking supplements.

[phenom]

i am very skeptical of this, although i've read much on the dangers of vitimin A, theirs more here, how accurate is this article?

[Elfreako]

I find Vitamin B6 helps a lot with my mood so i am on a supplement, I have heard that it is an ingredient in a lot of anti-depressants. I also take deep sea fish oil tablets as I dont eat fish, I find if I dont take them my skin becomes very dry.

[mancombseepgood]

My advice... eat fish and veggies among other things, but get fibre, etc. etc. with your vitamins - not just the vitamins. Eat less processed and modified (through heat and other processes) foods - with exception of cooking meat lol.

If it's found in nature in that form, it's good for you with a few exceptions. While you can't eat like that all the time, your staple diet should consist of fresh veg among other things, not processed stuff.

[Moederloos]

"increased chance of dying" ? What exactly does that mean? If I have a 16% increased chance of dying, then my chance of dying is now 116%?

Makes no sense to me.

[mancombseepgood]

:p
Good point moederloos... makes it look a little doff

[Mephisto_Helix]

My advice... eat fish and veggies among other things, but get fibre, etc. etc. with your vitamins - not just the vitamins. Eat less processed and modified (through heat and other processes) foods - with exception of cooking meat lol.

If it's found in nature in that form, it's good for you with a few exceptions. While you can't eat like that all the time, your staple diet should consist of fresh veg among other things, not processed stuff. ... I'll second that.


"increased chance of dying" ? What exactly does that mean? If I have a 16% increased chance of dying, then my chance of dying is now 116%?

Makes no sense to me. ...lol, they must mean 16% sooner surely.

[JayM]

Watched this report on TV yesterday. They had someone on after it completely debunking it. I'll continue taking my vitamins because I probably don't get them from my diet.

[mancombseepgood]

Watched this report on TV yesterday. They had someone on after it completely debunking it. I'll continue taking my vitamins because I probably don't get them from my diet.

While that may improve some things, your real issue is your diet... No offence. If you are taking vitamins for longevity, then rather look at your diet as that will have a far greater effect... same goes for vitality and general well-being.

It's too easy to take vitamins... and costs too much.
If we spend more money on food (as often happens when you eat whole) we will prolly also eat less... also not such a bad thing.

[JayM]

While that may improve some things, your real issue is your diet... No offence. If you are taking vitamins for longevity, then rather look at your diet as that will have a far greater effect... same goes for vitality and general well-being.

It's too easy to take vitamins... and costs too much.
If we spend more money on food (as often happens when you eat whole) we will prolly also eat less... also not such a bad thing.

I don't really want to live past 45. I'm currently healthy, and all my readings are perfect (cholestrol, glucose, BMI, etc). Keeping a perfect diet is something that most people cannot do, so the vitamins will have to stay.

[mancombseepgood]

I don't really want to live past 45. I'm currently healthy, and all my readings are perfect (cholestrol, glucose, BMI, etc). Keeping a perfect diet is something that most people cannot do, so the vitamins will have to stay.

How old are you? Talk is cheap. Tell us this again when you are 45.
I don't disagree with you completely, I just think it's easier said than done... life changes, so do outlooks... ask anyone who knows their time is short.

[JayM]

How old are you? Talk is cheap. Tell us this again when you are 45.
I don't disagree with you completely, I just think it's easier said than done... life changes, so do outlooks... ask anyone who knows their time is short.

I'm 29. It's silver-bullet retirement plan for me thanks very much.

[Crabby]

... Eat a halfway balanced diet...fruit...veggies...go take a walk in the sun for a few minutes each day...voila...it's all you need really (Unless you live in Finland during the winter)

Unfortunately in this day and age of processed everything, farming with pesticides, over farming etc you cannot get all your recommended vitamins and nutrients from eating only. The nutrient quality and quantity of the food we eat today is not the same as it was 20 years ago when that advice was sound.

I will always supplement along with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I was sick in the last 5 years.

Anyone who thinks a supplement will replace a balanced meal needs a straight jacket.

Of course you also need to do your research about what supplement you are taking as there are plenty of suspect companies out there.

As with everything else in life, you get what you pay for.


Vitamins are good for expensive urine (yes you have darker urine,ie more concentrated, after drinking vitamins). I've used some before, did absolutely nothing for me.

Did you stop after a week, month or year ? I didn't notice a difference till at least 6 months in.

I would think that if you have dark urine after taking vitamins, that would indicate cheap n nasty vitamins that are not being absorbed into the body optimally and over a prolonged time period. Urine is supposed to be as light as possible, the lighter, the more hydrated you are.

[Devill]

Another nutritionist who has formulated supplements described the review as a "stitch-up", arguing it only looked at studies which examined the effect they had on reducing mortality, rather than other advantages.

Well sure there are alot of thing worse than death?!?!

Lol...so you are healthy for 50 years then die or live for 80 years :p

ill take my 80 years thanks :)

[Moederloos]

Probably took their "scientific" samples from people who religiously swallow vitamins everyday in order to combat the effects of alcohol, junk food, stress and sloth-like behaviour...
:D

[mancombseepgood]

I'm 29. It's silver-bullet retirement plan for me thanks very much.

:p Spring chicken...
let's revisit this in 15 years time.

[Wino]

Unfortunately in this day and age of processed everything, farming with pesticides, over farming etc you cannot get all your recommended vitamins and nutrients from eating only. The nutrient quality and quantity of the food we eat today is not the same as it was 20 years ago when that advice was sound.

I will always supplement along with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I was sick in the last 5 years.

Anyone who thinks a supplement will replace a balanced meal needs a straight jacket.

Of course you also need to do your research about what supplement you are taking as there are plenty of suspect companies out there.

As with everything else in life, you get what you pay for.



Did you stop after a week, month or year ? I didn't notice a difference till at least 6 months in.

I would think that if you have dark urine after taking vitamins, that would indicate cheap n nasty vitamins that are not being absorbed into the body optimally and over a prolonged time period. Urine is supposed to be as light as possible, the lighter, the more hydrated you are.


Agreed 100%
Only a fool wont recognise the benefits of taking nutritional supplements!
I RARELY gt sick, and when I do pick up a flu virus, it doesnt leave me in bed for a week, I can still work and be productive.
The important fact here is the fact that so much of what we eat is not as healthy as it would seem. Veggies start losing their vitamin potency once they are pulled from the earth, so the longer they have been on the shelf, or frozen, the less chance you have of digesting your minimum daily required dose. Add to this the fact that very few people eat a full quota of required fruits and veg 7 days a week, and now consider these facts over several years, maybe decades, and the result is grim.

[JayM]

:p Spring chicken...
let's revisit this in 15 years time.

I have never had the desire to live, and I certainly don't see things changing. Stop pretending you know me, because you don't.

[JungleRumble]

JayM... if you pretend to be an ice cream, you must expect to be licked!

I used to get 5 colds per year - started taking cheapish Vit C tablets from Dischem - now I am down to one cold per year.

[greg_SA]

I think that Vitc and Zinc definitely help my immune system - If I feel like I'm getting sick, I start taking them ASAP... To absorb vitamin C properly, you need zinc as well.

[Lino]

I have been taking Vitamin C for about the last 6 years everyday. I also take an immune booster and generally my health is fantastic. I hardly get sick perhaps the odd cold.

[mancombseepgood]

I have never had the desire to live, and I certainly don't see things changing. Stop pretending you know me, because you don't.
Whatever floats your boat, I don't pretend to know anything...
It's you who pretends - like I said, come back when you're 45 and we can talk...