CBS News reports that research has now established, once and for all, that multivitamins are a waste of money and do not replace a healthy way of life--that brisk walk to the market for those organically grown veggies. The research takes a reverse "shotgun" approach to find that on average, the multivitamins are not beneficial and might even be harmful.

These findings do not rule out specific cases where supplements are still thought to be useful such as folic acid during pregnancy and vitamin D in a variety of situations.  
 

Multivitamin researchers say "case is closed" after studies find no health benefits

“We believe that the case is closed -- supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful,” concluded the authors of the editorial summarizing the new research papers, published Dec. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. “These vitamins should not be used for chronic disease prevention. Enough is enough.”

They went on to urge consumers to not “waste” their money on multivitamins.

“The ‘stop wasting your money’ means that perhaps you're spending money on things that won't protect you long term,” editorial co-author Dr. Edgar Miller, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, told CBS News’ chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. “What will protect you is if you spend the money on fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, low fat dairy, things like that ..exercising would probably be a better use of the money.”

The strong message was based on a review of the findings from three studies that tracked multivitamins link to cancer protection, heart health, and brain and cognitive measures.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are taken by an estimated half of all Americans.

Keep reading Multivitamins won't boost health, waste of money: Researchers - CBS News.