Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Evidence-based practice guideline based on a commissioned systematic review of randomized trials
PubMed 35727271 · doi:10.1001/jama.2022.8970
What was done
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned an updated systematic evidence review evaluating the efficacy and harms of supplementation with single nutrients, functionally related nutrient pairs, or multivitamins for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality in community-dwelling, nonpregnant adults.
What was found
The abstract reports qualitative certainty determinations without numerical effect estimates or risk ratios: - Beta carotene: Harms outweigh benefits for preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer with moderate certainty (D recommendation; recommends against use). - Vitamin E: No net benefit for preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer with moderate certainty (D recommendation; recommends against use). - Multivitamins: Evidence is insufficient to determine the balance of benefits and harms for preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer (I statement). - Single or paired nutrients (other than beta carotene and vitamin E): Evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms (I statement).
Why it matters
This guideline establishes that routine beta carotene and vitamin E supplementation should not be used for primary cardiovascular disease or cancer prevention in the general adult population, and that current evidence does not support routine multivitamin use for these outcomes.
Limits
The abstract reports no numerical risk estimates, study counts, or total sample sizes. Findings are limited to community-dwelling, nonpregnant adults and do not apply to children, individuals with clinical nutrient deficiencies, or those with specific medical indications for supplementation.
Cited by
- context Scientific research shows that standard synthetic multivitamin supplements provide literally no benefit.