Doctor Warns Against Using ANY Health Supplement, Saying It’s Lacking ‘Evidential’ And Could Actually Harm You

More than half of Americans take a supplement at least once a month with the goal of improving their health.

But a top doctor has now suggested this pill habit could be fruitless, claiming the evidence that any vitamin or mineral is beneficial for you is ‘missing’.

Dr. Mike Varshavski, a general practitioner and Internet personality, said on a popular podcast last week that he has never seen a study showing that healthy adults should take a supplement — despite analyzing hundreds of years of medical research.

He said Americans can get all the nutrients their bodies need by eating a balanced diet, except for a small number of people with specific medical conditions.

Even worse, he suggested that supplements could actually harm people by causing them to put off behaviors proven to improve health, such as diet and exercise, because of a false sense of security.

The industry’s value is rising in the US, amid a craze among people using the supplements to combat deficiencies and extend lifespan

In a CEO podcast diary, he said, “Supplements, additional vitamins, are not necessary the vast majority of the time.

‘The evidence for almost all supplements is lacking unless you have a very specific reason for needing them.’

“And what I’ve learned in my 10 years as a doctor … is that introducing new things, distracting people from things that work, is not a good solution unless we are sure of some benefit.”

The popularity of the U.S. supplement industry has doubled in a decade, reaching an estimated $40.9 billion last year.

Companies say multivitamin supplements close the gap for people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, reducing the risk of heart and brain disease, as well as a host of cancers.

Dr. Mike appeared on a CEO podcast diary where he talked about supplements

But this is rarely confirmed in studies, including a 2013 meta-analysis of 450,000 people that found that taking a multivitamin regularly did not reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer or cognitive decline.

In cases where multivitamins appeared to improve health, it was unclear whether this was due to the tablets or another factor, such as exercise.

Dr. Mike added: ‘You can get all your nutrients from food unless you have a specific medical condition.

‘(Supplements) make you skip things that are healthy for you because you think you can take a shortcut.

“(And) you’re spending your limited health care budget on things that are very expensive, you’re making a lot of promises, and what I’m most concerned about is when we enter the space of people saying you need supplements and not real medical treatments for circumstances that hinder or influence them.’

Patients with conditions such as iron deficiency anemia – or iron deficiency – can supplement with this mineral to boost their levels and improve energy levels, while pregnant women are recommended to take a daily dose of folic acid to prevent brain abnormalities in babies.

But the evidence for supplements for people with other conditions is not as strong, including for type 2 diabetics who can take supplements such as zinc.

The American Diabetes Association – a leader in research – does not recommend it, saying: ‘Research on many supplements is inconclusive.’

Dr. Mike also warned that supplements pose risks because they can interact with medications the patient is already taking or, because they are unregulated, contain more of a substance than the label suggests.

For example, too much vitamin B can cause inflammation in the body, while high levels of vitamin A can cause organ damage.

Experts advise patients to talk to their doctor before starting or stopping taking a supplement.