Many people swear by vitamins and take them every day. Others only take them when they feel like they need to or are looking for certain benefits. Although vitamins have been labeled as beneficial for years, a new study shows that Vitamin D may not have any benefits.
Vitamin D is said to help protect against bone problems, stroke, cancer and other diseases. Nearly 50% of Americans take Vitamin D, believing it will protect them from these health problems.
According to Dr. Mark Bolland, a researcher at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, this is not the case.
“The take-away message is that there is little justification currently for prescribing vitamin D to prevent heart attack, stroke, cancer, or fractures in otherwise-healthy people living in the community,” Dr. Bolland said.
In the past, doctors have said that Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to poor health and causes bones to lose calcium. The study shows that Vitamin D deficiencies do not cause poor health, but are a consequence of it instead.
Further studies show unborn babies do not get any benefits from the vitamin when taken by pregnant women. The study shows that people suffering from Vitamin D deficiency would benefit more by walking out in the sun, which causes the body to produce the vitamin naturally.
Do you think Vitamin D supplements are beneficial?
Image via Wikimedia Commons.