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Vitamins and minerals for daily supplementation: only folic acid and really useful B vitamins.

The prevention and treatment of deficient pathologies with vitamins and minerals have been one of the greatest successes in the history of nutrition sciences. Recently, the interest in this type of integration has gone far beyond the classic deficiency pathologies, such as scurvy, beriberi or deficiency and megaloblastic-type deficiency anemias. Today, in fact, attention has shifted to the prevention of marginal or “sub-clinical” deficiencies and to the possible benefits that integration could have in the general population. According to the results of a survey of almost 40,000 adults between 1999 and 2012, one in two adults in the United States takes at least one of these dietary supplements daily. This is a habit that is increasingly widespread and consolidated, yet there is still no general agreement to confirm its real effectiveness. The authors of the meta-analysis, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (Vol. 71, No. 22, June 5, 2018: 2570-84), conducted a systematic review of all studies and meta-analyses since 2012 until the end of 2017, with the aim of verifying the impact on cardiovascular and tumoral pathologies, but also on mortality in general, multivitamin-multimineral, group B vitamin complexes and antioxidants.
Amazing results.
Of the four most used types of integration (multivitamin-multimineral, Vitamin D, calcium, Vitamin C), none has shown any effect on cardiovascular mortality or for any cause. Niacin (vitamin B3) and antioxidants have even shown a correlation with an increase in mortality in general. Only folic acid and group B vitamin complexes have shown real evidence of benefit, significantly reducing the risk of stroke.
Conclusions
The integration of folic acid and some B group vitamins can be a valuable aid in different situations, however, the doctor’s advice is always important to personalize the integration based on real individual needs. Among the supplements included in the register of the Ministry of Health, we find the “total B-VITAL”, a complex of B vitamins with folic acid, but without niacin, available in different formulations including coated and effervescent tablets.