What recent research is teaching us about the health benefits of vitamin supplementation
Multivitamins, single vitamins, and minerals continue to demonstrate high usage and consumer confidence among Americans who take supplements, according to CRN’s 2015 Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements. The multivitamin in particular is the most popular with supplement users, followed by vitamin D and vitamin C.
Building on this good news is the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recent release of the 2015â2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recognizes dietary supplements as “useful in providing one or more nutrients that otherwise may be consumed in less than recommended amounts or that are of particular concern for specific population groups.” Furthermore, the guidelines identify vitamins A, D, E, and C as nutrients that are “consumed by many individuals in amounts below the estimated average requirement or adequate intake levels.”So, while the continued popularity of and general consumer and government trust in multivitamins and single vitamins remain strong, one question remains: What, exactly, are all of the specific benefits of vitamin supplementation to human health?
Researchers are actively working to answer this question, and they are looking at elements of wellness ranging from cardiovascular health to cancer prevention to cognitive performance. Ahead, we look at notable as well as recent multivitamin/vitamin studies and the conclusions reached by their researchers.
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