Printer friendly versionVitamins and Minerals
This text is based on Cochrane reviews, which are recognized scientific articles.
What is a Cochrane Review?Authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital and ViFAB.
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| What is Positive Effect?What is Possible Positive Effect?What is No Effect? |
A possible positive effect is found in connection with:
Calcium and vitamin D for corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis
Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems
Effects and safety of periconceptional folate supplementation for preventing birth defects
Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality in adults
The following treatments show a tendency towards a possible positive effect. However, the evidence is insufficient and cannot form the basis of general recommendations:
Antioxidant supplements for preventing gastrointestinal cancers
Antioxidants for male subfertility
Dietary calcium supplementation for preventing colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps
Folate for depressive disorders
Herbal and dietary therapies for primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea
Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy
Interventions for preventing bone disease in kidney transplant recipients
Interventions for the prevention of nutritional rickets in term born children
Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia
Iodine supplementation for preventing iodine deficiency disorders in children
Iodised salt for preventing iodine deficiency disorders
Micronutrient supplementation in children and adults with HIV infection
Micronutrient supplementation in pregnant women with HIV infection
Nutritional supplements for people being treated for active tuberculosis
Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency
Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation in pregnancy
Selenium supplementation for asthma
Topical treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis
Vitamin A for treating measles in children
Vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy for maternal and newborn outcomes
Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold
Vitamin E for neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia
Zinc supplementation for improving pregnancy and infant outcome
In the following cases you should not expect an appreciable effect from the treatment:
Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age-related macular degeneration
Antioxidants for preventing pre-eclampsia
Calcium supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children
Vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women
Vitamin D supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children
Less that half the Cochrane reviews on vitamins and minerals conclude that there is a possibly positive effect or promising results in connection with the tested products.
The majority of the reviews call for more and better research in their field. This is due to the fact that often there is insufficient evidence on which to draw conclusions about the effect of the vitamins and minerals in question.
There are seldom reports of any severe adverse effects.
Antioxidant micronutrients for lung disease in cystic fibrosis
Antioxidant supplements for liver diseases
Antioxidant supplements for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and/or steatohepatitis
Antioxidant supplements for preventing gastrointestinal cancers
Antioxidant treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or motor neuron disease
Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age-related macular degeneration
Antioxidants for male subfertility
Antioxidants for preventing pre-eclampsia
Calcium and vitamin D for corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis
Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems
Calcium supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children
Calcium supplementation for the management of primary hypertension in adults
Combined vitamin B6-magnesium treatment in autism spectrum disorder
Dietary calcium supplementation for preventing colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps
Dietary supplements for established atopic eczema (se afsnit om bivirkninger)
Drugs for preventing lung cancer in healthy people
Effects and safety of periconceptional folate supplementation for preventing birth defects
Folate for depressive disorders
Folic acid for fragile X syndrome
Herbal and dietary therapies for primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea
Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy
Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy
Interventions for preventing bone disease in kidney transplant recipients
Interventions for preventing neuropathy caused by cisplatin and related compounds
Interventions for the prevention of nutritional rickets in term born children
Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia
Interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease
Iodine supplementation for preventing iodine deficiency disorders in children
Iodised salt for preventing iodine deficiency disorders
Iron supplementation for reducing morbidity and mortality in children with HIV
Magnesium for acute traumatic brain injury
Magnesium supplementation for the management of primary hypertension in adults
Magnesium supplementation in pregnancy
Micronutrient supplementation in children and adults with HIV infection
Micronutrient supplementation in pregnant women with HIV infection
Nutritional interventions for preventing and treating pressure ulcers
Nutritional supplements for people being treated for active tuberculosis
Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency
Oral zinc for arterial and venous leg ulcers
Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children
Parenteral calcium for intensive care unit patients
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation in pregnancy
Selenium for preventing cancer
Selenium supplementation for asthma
Selenium supplementation for critically ill adults
Silver acetate for smoking cessation
Thiamine for Alzheimer's disease
Topical treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis
Treatments for iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy
Vitamin A for non-measles pneumonia in children
Vitamin A for treating measles in children
Vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy for maternal and newborn outcomes
Vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women
Vitamin B for treating peripheral neuropathy
Vitamin C for preventing and treating pneumonia
Vitamin C for preventing and treating tetanus
Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold
Vitamin C supplementation for asthma
Vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy
Vitamin D compounds for people with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis
Vitamin D compounds for people with chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis
Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis
Vitamin D for the treatment of chronic painful conditions in adults
Vitamin D supplementation for cystic fibrosis
Vitamin D supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children
Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality in adults
Vitamin D supplementation for women during pregnancy
Vitamin E for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment
Vitamin E for intermittent claudication
Vitamin E for neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia
Vitamin E supplementation in pregnancy
Vitamin K for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver diseases
Vitamin K supplementation for cystic fibrosis
Vitamin supplementation for preventing miscarriage
Zinc supplementation for improving pregnancy and infant outcome
Zinc supplementation for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus