Vitamin pills: waste of money

Vitamin pills provide no health benefits and are a waste of money, according to a new scientific report. Researchers claim those who take vitamins to ward off serious conditions such as cancers, heart disease or strokes would be better off buying more fruit and vegetables.

The findings of the study by scientists at Oxford University were immediately criticised by the multi-million pound vitamin industry. Around £175 million is spent each year on pills and supplements said to help combat ill-health and disease.

Research leader Professor Rory Collins said: "They are safe - we didn't find any hazards. But they are useless."

He said 20,000 people were monitored for five years. "We saw absolutely no effect on vascular disease or any cancers. There have been claims that vitamins might protect you against cataracts, there was no effect; that vitamins might prevent fractures by preventing osteoporosis, there was no effect."

Mr Collins said fruit and vegetables provide a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. "There is no need to supplement this with vitamin pills.

According to the medical journal The Lancet, half of those in the study were given daily doses of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene while the other half took dummy pills.

Those who took the vitamins were just as likely to die from any cause. Scientists found no protection against heart attacks, cancer or strokes. Bone and eye health was also unaffected. Vitamin E tablets are purported to slow the decline of the brain but researchers saw no sign of this. Rates of respiratory disease such as asthma were the same for those taking the vitamins and the dummy pills.

Those taking the vitamins were found to have experienced a small but definite increase in harmful cholesterol, although it never reached an unsafe level.

Dr Jane Armitage said the doses administered were the same as many over-the-counter supplements. The people in the study were aged between 40 and 80 and deemed to be at high risk of heart attack or stroke because they suffered from coronary disease, artery disease or diabetes. They were given 600mg of vitamin E, 250mg of vitamin C and 20mg of beta carotene twice daily. But the scientists found their level of risk owed more to other aspects of their lifestyles and the tablets had little effect.

A spokesman for the Health Supplements Information Service said: "This study was carried out across a narrow group of people, who had conditions putting them at high risk of contracting diseases such as diabetes, and over a relatively short period of time.

"Antioxidants have widely proven health benefits when taken by the general population as a supplement to a balanced diet or when a person's diet does not contain enough nutrients. They are not intended to be used for the treatment or prevention of serious illnesses such as heart disease or cancer."

Recent reports suggest the sales of vitamins and minerals rose by three per cent between 1996 and last year.