Researchers from Harvard Medical School recently discovered that taking multivitamins not only fails to promote fitness and prevent disease in healthy adults but may actually be harmful to the body.
An article published in the latest issue of the "Harvard Men's Health Watch" states that for healthy adults, taking multivitamins "does not play a role in preventing heart disease or cancer."
Some studies even suggest that excessive intake of certain vitamins may increase the risk of cancer; for instance, vitamin E has been linked to lung cancer.
Harvey Simon, who led this research, said: "There is ample evidence that taking multivitamins is ineffective for healthy adults and may even be harmful. If that's the case, why take them?"
There has been ongoing debate in the American scientific community about whether people need to supplement with multivitamins. However, the prevailing view is that for pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, taking multivitamin supplements is still beneficial for health.