Indiscriminate use of vitamin supplements increases the risk of death

Indiscriminate consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements may increase the risk of death in women over 55 years of age, a joint study by the University of Kuopio in Finland says. University of Minnesota, United States. According to the researchers, more than a third of the population of the countries surveyed take vitamin supplements on their own, a practice that should be avoided.

38 thousand women, aged between 55 and 66, participated in the study. Scientists have chosen this group because supplement use is more common in women who have entered menopause. The volunteers were observed for two decades by the authors of the study. During the initial interviews, doctors found that 63% of participants took some form of vitamin or mineral supplement to prevent chronic illness without consulting a doctor. The most commonly used supplements without a prescription were B6 vitamins and folic acid (or B9), iron, magnesium, zinc and copper.

After the study was completed, the researchers analyzed the results and found that taking supplements without need brings several increase the risk of death in women by up to 5%. According to doctors, men are also at risk, but a study is needed to determine the risk of death.

Experts point out that most of these compounds become harmful in high amounts. The authors of the study, however, explain that vitamin and mineral supplements are allied to good health if consumed with medical advice and are often really needed. to prevent diseases.

Common errors at the time of supplementation According to research data made by IBGE, 98% of the Brazilian population does not consume the ideal amount of vitamins per day and 92% do not consume fruits frequently. For this reason, dietary supplements are part of the new food pyramid called Healthy Eating Pyramid, recently developed by scientists at Harvard University. But when it comes to including dietary supplements, you need to take some precautions to avoid problems, such as avoiding these errors:

Consuming supplements without medical advice:

"Supplements are important as they prevent deficiency and excess but it is always good to remember that the quantity and variety of food supplements should be indicated by a professional and only in specific cases, "explains nutritionist Máximo Asinelli of the Brazilian Society of Food and Nutrition. those who have diseases need to take them: Even a disease free person who practices physical exercise, has a balanced diet, does not drink and does not smoke may need supplementation, says nutrologist Wilson Rondó. According to the specialist, each person has a different metabolism and therefore specifically absorbs each type of nutrient.

Use them as medicines: Supplements should not be used to fight diseases already installed in the since they have no allopathic effect, ie they do not produce a reaction that is opposite to the symptoms of the patients.

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