Abstract
Vitamin and mineral supplements are the most commonly
used dietary supplements by
populations worldwide.1-4
The amount of micronutrients
they provide ranges from less than recommended intakes to much more, making them important contributors to total
intakes. While supplements can be used to
correct micronutrient deficiency or maintain an adequate intake, over-the-counter
supplements are most often taken by people with no clinical signs or symptoms of
deficiency. However, the effect of vitamin
and mineral supplements on the risk of
non-communicable diseases in “generally healthy” populations is controversial.
We examine patterns of supplement use
and the evidence on their effects from randomised trials.
used dietary supplements by
populations worldwide.1-4
The amount of micronutrients
they provide ranges from less than recommended intakes to much more, making them important contributors to total
intakes. While supplements can be used to
correct micronutrient deficiency or maintain an adequate intake, over-the-counter
supplements are most often taken by people with no clinical signs or symptoms of
deficiency. However, the effect of vitamin
and mineral supplements on the risk of
non-communicable diseases in “generally healthy” populations is controversial.
We examine patterns of supplement use
and the evidence on their effects from randomised trials.
Original language | English |
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Article number | m2511 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | BMJ |
Volume | 369 |
Early online date | 29 Jun 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published online - 29 Jun 2020 |