Vitamins for Cardiovascular Diseases: Is the Expense Justified?

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Widespread use of vitamin supplements among US adults.
• Established knowledge that balanced diets meet most nutritional needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• Review scientific evidence on vitamin supplementation for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention.
• Address the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of vitamin use.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of evidence from large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) over the past two decades.
• Focus on primary and secondary prevention of CVD outcomes.

Main Results:

• RCT evidence does not support vitamin supplementation for reducing cardiovascular risk factors or clinical outcomes.
• While generally safe in small doses, megadoses pose risks and incur expense.

Conclusions:

• Unnecessary vitamin consumption should be curtailed based on scientific evidence.
• Public and healthcare provider education is needed to limit indiscriminate supplement use and associated costs.