- You are here:
- Home
- Health information
- Health in the news
- 2011
- Supplements may harm health of older women
Supplements may harm health of older women
11 October 2011
Actions
Rate this page
Need more information?
Related hubs
Healthy, older women who take supplements may be doing more harm than good, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Researchers assessed a total of 15 different supplements. They found that vitamin B6, copper, folic acid, iron, magnesium and zinc were associated with an increase in total risk of death. Iron was strongly associated with an increased total risk of death and conversely, calcium was strongly associated with a decreased total risk of death.
The researchers also found that the number of women using supplements increased dramatically over the study period – from 63 out of 100 women in 1986, to 85 out of 100 women in 2004.
Dr Ryan Mehta, Clinical Project Director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing UK, commented: “A major oversight in this study is that none of the women were asked why they were taking supplements in the first place. This makes it difficult to know if the women were taking supplements because of an illness they already had or because they believed taking supplements would keep them well. If the former is true, then there is a chance that the illness caused their death and it wasn’t related to the supplement. Also, we have very little information on dose, except for the iron and calcium. This makes it difficult to compare the women as the amount they were taking may have varied.
"The findings from this study may go some way to support the rationale that supplements should only be taken if you are deficient in a particular nutrient. However, the numbers are quite small and the increases in risk found from taking supplements were minimal.
“My advice to anyone who is well is to eat a healthy, balanced diet – this way you can get almost all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs without supplements. But if you have a particular health condition that may cause you to become deficient in a particular vitamin or mineral, or are on a special diet, speak to you GP who will be able to advise you about what to take.”
The researchers looked at the use of dietary supplements by almost 40,000 women in the USA. They were all aged between 55 and 69 when the study began in 1986 and reported the supplements they used over a 19-year period. They were asked to complete questionnaires on three separate occasions that took into account numerous dietary and lifestyle factors.
Key facts
- Most people are able to get almost all of the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, balanced diet. The amount your body needs varies from person to person. It depends on many things, including your gender, age and activity levels.
- Aim to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables each day. It’s important to include starchy foods (such as bread, potatoes and pasta) and moderate amounts of protein-rich foods (such as meat, fish and pulses) in your meals.
- You may be advised to take supplements if you’re planning a pregnancy – folic acid; are at risk of osteoporosis – vitamin D and calcium; or have age-related macular degeneration – vitamins C and E and zinc.
How can we help you?
Nutrition and dietetics
Bupa's private Cromwell Hospital's Nutrition and Dietetic Department has a team of registered dietitians that can offer tailored dietary advice based on specific medical conditions. For more info call 020 7460 5566.
Talk to a private GP in confidence
Male and female doctors make up Bupa's team of highly experienced GPs with all the empathetic qualities you'd expect. Book to see a Private GP today or call 0845 600 3458 quoting ref. HFS GP.
Read the study
Mursu J, Robien K, Harnack L, et al. Dietary supplements and mortality rate in older women. Arch Intern Med 2011; 171(18):1625–33. www.archinternmed.com
Bupa By You
