Daily doses of multivitamin tablets

The benefits of folic acid supplements taken periconceptually in preventing neural tube defect have been shown convincingly. 9 High intakes of folic acid also reduce plasma homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of plasma lipids and other risk factors, and low intakes of folic acid are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer. 10 11 This has led to mandatory fortification of cereal products in the United States and elsewhere. [...]although folic acid lowers plasma homocysteine, there is no evidence yet from controlled trials whether or not this will reduce cardiovascular disease or cancer. [...]the results of intervention trials in progress are available, the benefits of folic acid supplements other than to prevent neural tube defects remain unproved. 12 The answer to the question of whether we should take a multivitamin tablet every day must be that unless our intake is inadequate as a result of a poor diet then supplements will probably do us no good-apart from folic acid taken periconceptually and, possibly, vitamin D by elderly people.