Multivitamin supplements are increasingly present in our lives, even when it comes to heart health. Now that the importance of vitamins and trace elements for the general health of our organism is known and recognized, the supply of multivitamin supplements, individual vitamins or minerals is ever increasing. A recent review that has evaluated studies and recommendations on the use of supplements published over the past 4 years, and reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, takes stock of their effectiveness for heart health. Researchers at the University of Toronto conclude that the evidence is not sufficient to support the intake of one or more supplements to improve cardiovascular prognosis. “It was already known that there was little evidence on the effectiveness of supplements in preventing cardiovascular disease – explains Dr. Maddalena Lettino, of the Cardiovascular Department of Humanitas. It therefore remains much more useful to suggest a balanced diet free of foods harmful to the health of the heart than to recommend the systematic use of any vitamin complex or antioxidant.
Vitamin supplements, they don’t always do well for the heart
To date, therefore, it is not possible to say that in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases there is a greater efficacy or greater benefits of taking vitamins with supplements or with multivitamin complexes, compared to those taken with food. “As Canadian researchers have stated – explains Dr. Maddalena Lettino – further studies and evidence are needed. Vitamin C, D, beta-carotene, selenium and calcium, or multivitamin complexes based on B vitamins or antioxidants, in fact, have not only shown poor efficacy in cardiovascular prevention but have sometimes been associated with an increase in adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events, sometimes contributing to the full expression of some other factor of cardiovascular risk, as happens for example with niacin (a group B vitamin) that would appear to adversely affect the glycemic response. Folic acid, which until a few years ago, in a large Chinese study, had proved to be effective in reducing cardiovascular events and in particular stroke – continues the expert – today, is also being questioned. Therefore, there is no need to resort to a real intake of food supplements – concludes Dr. Maddalena Lettino – the vitamins and minerals you need can be safely taken by adopting a healthy and balanced diet like the Mediterranean one”.
