Supplementing proven deficiencies of vitamins and minerals.

摘要

The conclusion in the draft statement from the US National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference panel (May 20, p 1704)1 that there is insufficient evidence to support or advise against the use of multivitamin and mineral supplements in the general population to prevent chronic diseases deserves closer inspection.There is no reason to expect that the use of multivitamin and mineral supplements would prevent chronic disease unless (1) individuals given supplements havediagnosed vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and (2) the doses and combinations of supplements used are confirmed to correct any diagnosed deficiencies.The commonest measurable deficiency is of zinc. The epidemiol-ogical studies mentioned by the panel, which included studies of zinc and selenium supplementation, found some decreases in cancers, especially lung, oesophageal, gastric, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and in age-related macular degeneration.