Popular Dietary Supplements Linked to Increased Risk of Death in Older Women

A study of nearly 40,000 women to investigate the association between vitamin and mineral supplements and mortality rates has found that some common supplements appear to actually increase the risk of dying. Jaakko Mursu, Ph.D., of the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and colleagues found that multivitamins, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, and copper, were all associated with increased risk of death in older women (average age of 61.6 years). "Based on existing evidence, we see little justification for the general and widespread use of dietary supplements," the authors conclude. "We recommend that they be used with strong medically based cause, such as symptomatic nutrient deficiency disease."