Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. A new study revealed that those using non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements regularly, such as herbs, lecithin, glucosamine, and omega-3 fats, had a 26% decreased risk of death.
A new study (1) has found that supplement use beyond vitamins and mineral supplements is increasing and benefiting overall health. These supplements are called non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements (NVNM) and include supplements like ginseng, glucosamine, and saw palmetto. In the study, nearly 5,000 patients were examined between 1988 and 1990 and then re-examined 5, 10, and 15 years later. The patients provided blood and urine samples as well as information on their diet and nutritional supplement regimen.
After the initial exam of 5,000 patients, 3,700 were seen at the 5-year mark, nearly 3,000 at the 10-year mark, and nearly 2,400 at the 15-year mark. Non-vitamin, non-mineral supplement use was 5% at the start, 6% at the second exam, 21% at the third and 30% at the fourth examination. Lecithin was the most commonly used non-vitamin, non-mineral supplement at the initial exam (taken by 1.6% of the patients) followed by garlic (1.0%), omega-3 fatty (0.3%) and ginseng (0.2%). By the 15-year visit, glucosamine was the most commonly used non-vitamin, non-mineral supplement (13.2%), followed by omega-3 fats (5.8%), garlic (5.5%), gingko biloba (2.9%), saw palmetto (2.3%), ginseng (1.9%), and lecithin (1.7%). Unfortunately, the researchers did not collect information on doses of these supplements, just their use.
When looking at the role of non-vitamin, non-mineral supplement use and health, they found significant health benefits up to the 10-year follow-up exam. Specifically, those using non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements regularly had a 26% decreased risk of death compared to those who did not use non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements. The researchers acknowledge that it was not the supplements alone that produced these benefits, as those using supplements were also more active by the 15-year follow-up (62.4% of users were “sedentary” compared to 71.3% of non-users), consumed less alcohol (12.5% of users were at one time “heavy drinkers” compared to 14.2% of non-users), and took less medications (7.6 medications per user compared to 8.9 medications per non-user).
For the researchers, “In general, users of non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements had a healthier profile and were more likely to survive than non-users.”
Source: Knudtson, Michael D., et al. “A longitudinal study of nonvitamin, nonmineral supplement use: prevalence, associations, and survival in an aging population.” Annals of epidemiology 17.12 (2007): 933-939.
© 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Posted October 16, 2009.
References:
- Knudston MD. A Longitudinal Study of Non-vitamin, Non-mineral Supplement Use: Prevalence, Associations, and Survival in an Aging Population. Ann Epidemiol. 2007 December ; 17(12): 933–939.
