Senioren, eigenlijk iedereen, moeten wel dagelijks multivitaminen innemen.

Senioren en zij die een speciale dieet volgen lopen een groot risico op tekorten aan vitamines. Zelfs mensen die normaal eten kunnen niet genoeg vitamines binnen krijgen zeggen onderzoekers van de Havard Medical School in Boston. Zij trekken deze conclusies aan de hand van eerdere studies gedaan van 1966 tot 2002 met betrekking tot vitamines en allerlei ziektes. Omdat te lage vitamine-inname gepaard gaat met allerlei ziektes adviseren zij dat iedereen dagelijks extra vitamines moet innemen.

The elderly and those who follow restrictive diets face the risk of vitamin deficiency, but even people who eat a normal diet may not be getting enough of certain vitamins, according to researchers. Because low vitamin intake has been linked to a host of illnesses, Drs. Kathleen M. Fairfield and Robert H. Fletcher of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, recommend that everybody--regardless of age or health status--take a daily multivitamin. It's rare to find a health-promoter that offers such a substantial benefit with a relatively low cost and low risk of problems, Fletcher told. "And when you have such a thing," he added, "you ought to jump on it." In two articles in the June 19th issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, Fletcher and Fairfield review studies published between 1966 and 2002 that investigated the links between vitamin intake and diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. For example, studies have shown that taking the B vitamin folic acid early in pregnancy can help prevent certain birth defects, while others have suggested the vitamin might cut the risk of certain cancers and heart disease. Other vitamins, such as vitamin E, have been found to reduce cancer risk when consumed at recommended levels, and vitamin D plus calcium supplements have been shown to decrease the risks of bone loss and fracture in the elderly. In an interview, Fletcher explained that certain people are at higher risk of vitamin deficiency, particularly the elderly, and those who follow restrictive diets, such as vegans, who avoid all animal products. Although many vegans eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, they may not be getting enough of certain fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D and vitamin B-12, which are most often found in animal products, he noted. As people age, they also become less able to absorb some vitamins from their diets, and research has suggested that people who drink alcohol may need extra folic acid. However, Fletcher pointed out that most Americans--except those who follow what he described as a "super-perfect" diet--likely do not get enough of certain vitamins in their diets and would benefit from multivitamins, as well. Indeed, a recent survey showed that only 20% to 30% of Americans consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, the recommended amount. In addition, Fletcher said, some physicians may not understand the importance of vitamin deficiency and may fail to recommend multivitamins. The evidence promoting the benefits of various vitamins is relatively new, Fletcher explained, so doctors may not yet be aware of it. Furthermore, vitamins are considered to be somewhat of an alternative therapy and some doctors have "this prejudice against anything that's not very orthodox," the researcher stated. Fletcher and Fairfield point out that excessive vitamin doses can have adverse effects--including higher-than-recommended vitamin A intake during pregnancy, which is linked to certain fetal anomalies. SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association 2002;287:3116-3126, 3127-3129. (juni 2002) 

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