While vitamin D supplements did not affect overall prevalence of cardiovascular disease, strokes, or cancer, there was a 17% reduction in deaths from cancer in the group that took vitamin D. When Manson focused solely on individuals who had been taking vitamin D for two years or more, there was a statistically significant 25% reduction in cancer deaths, and a 17% reduction in advanced metastatic cancer.
The Vital trial has also shown that vitamin D supplements significantly reduce the rate of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Manson’s physician’s health study II, which began over 20 years ago, found that the risk of being diagnosed with cancer was 8% lower in people who took a daily multivitamin for 11 years. The greatest benefit was in older participants who were above the age of 70, who had an 18% reduction in cancer with the multivitamin assignment compared to the placebo group.
It is possible that adults aged 60 or older may benefit from taking a daily multivitamin tablet to decrease their risk of cancer and slow their rate of cognitive decline, although the jury is still out on this.
The tl;dr is if you’re not getting enough of specific vitamins and minerals for whatever reason (dietary, medical, lifestyle), a supplement seems to improve some health outcomes. Those deficits tend to get worse with age so older people seem to benefit most.
I take a vitamin D supplement because I tend to avoid sun exposure as much as possible and all my hobbies are indoors.
A Nordic study showed an 80% reduction in Type 2 diabetes when they supplemented with D. Interesting stuff.
Oddly, there a multiple forms of D, so nailing down your own form-deficit is difficult.
No.
Betteridge’s law of headlines is an adage that states: “Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no.”
