Vitamin studies flawed: Review

HEALTH • If a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine downplaying the benefits of vitamins released last month left you clearing out your nutrient stash, you might want to have a rethink.

A new review published in the journal Nutrients indicates that most large clinical trials of vitamin supplements — whether they conclude that vitamins are not beneficial or even harmful — have flawed methodology, making these studies useless.

While the analysis focused on problems with studies on vitamin C, scientists say the findings are relevant to a wide range of vitamins.

The review points out that many studies assessing vitamins employ the same approach used for studying powerful prescription drugs. Balz Frei, director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, said the result is that the conclusions of these studies have little scientific meaning, even less accuracy and often defy a wealth of other evidence.

Frei adds that until the methodology for micronutrients research is changed, the flawed findings will continue.

Bruce Stotesbury/postmedia News An expert says that studies about vitamins often have little scientific meaning.