Multivitamins, iron, folic acid, B6, magnesium, zinc and copper supplements increase mortality, and folic acid (with B12) increases cancer.
Original statement
وفي دراسة Iowa Women's Health ارتبط استعمال المتعددات والحديد والنحاس وحمض الفوليك بزيادة الوفيات على مدى 22 سنة.
not verbatim – paraphrase. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
Multivitamins, iron, folic acid, B6, magnesium, zinc and copper supplements increase mortality, and folic acid (with B12) increases cancer.
Origin
- Source status
- Archive editors
- Attribution
- Archive editors (eltayebat.com); not verified as Elawady's own words
- Origin
- https://eltayebat.com/rule/oral-supplements/
- Attribution uncertainty
- Written by the archive operators; study selection is the archive's, not necessarily Elawady's.
- Claimed mechanism
Not specified.
- Claimed health effect
Higher total mortality; cancer.
- Population concerned
Older women (Iowa); patients with heart disease (Norway).
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
none found
Scientific assessment
Potentially false – The available evidence tends to speak against the statement, but is not conclusive.
Certainty of evidence: moderate – Further research may still affect the assessment.
1. What was claimed?
Common vitamin/mineral pills increase death and cancer.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
Iowa (A-SUP-06): multivitamins HR 1.06 (1.02–1.10), iron HR 1.10, folic acid HR 1.15 (1.00–1.32), copper HR 1.45 – associations in older women. This is weak, hypothesis-generating support: several associations (B6, folic acid, magnesium, zinc) would not meet the authors' own Bonferroni threshold (P=0.0033), some changed direction with lifestyle adjustment, the authors caution against causal interpretation, and the most robust signal is for iron; no folic acid/B12-cancer analysis is reported. Ebbing 2009: folic acid + B12 associated with more cancer (HR 1.21) in Norwegian heart patients.
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
Associations from self-reported cohort data cannot show harm; supplement users differ from non-users (e.g. taking supplements because of illness). RCT meta-analyses show no mortality effect of multivitamins and no significant cancer effect of folic acid. The archive omits that calcium was inversely associated with mortality in the same cohort.
4. What remains unclear?
Long-term (>10 years) effects of high-dose folic acid are less studied.
5. Which studies support it?
6. Which studies contradict it?
A-SUP-26 (RCT meta-analysis, RR 0.98), Vollset 2013 (I-SUP-07), O'Connor 2022 (I-SUP-08), A-SUP-25 (PHS II, total mortality HR 0.94, n.s.).
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
Applies equally.
8. What is known about Egypt?
Applies equally.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
Routine supplements are not needed for well-nourished people, but there is no good evidence that standard-dose multivitamins or folic acid shorten life.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
The mortality claim rests on an observational cohort with self-reported supplement use (Iowa; HR 1.06–1.15, copper 1.45). Meta-analysis of 21 RCTs (91,074 people) found no effect of multivitamin-multimineral supplements on mortality (RR 0.98); an individual-participant meta-analysis of 13 folic acid RCTs (49,621 people) found no significant effect on cancer incidence (RR 1.06, 0.99–1.13). The Norwegian signal (Ebbing 2009) was not confirmed in the pooled analysis.
- Source quality
Observational cohort presented as evidence of harm; RCT evidence points to no effect.
- Regional transferability
High.
- Individual exceptions
Iron overload disorders (haemochromatosis) are a real reason to avoid iron supplements.
- Regional scope of the claim
- general (biological/medical)
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026 provisional
In plain language
One large survey of older American women found that those who took some vitamin and mineral pills died slightly more often. But such surveys cannot show cause and effect. When the pills were tested in randomised trials, they did not increase deaths, and folic acid did not increase cancer.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (2)
-
Supplements and mortality in older women
Mursu J et al.. Arch Intern Med 2011 · PMID 21987192 · DOI 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.445Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archivefull text checked★ key studySeveral supplements were linked to slightly more deaths; calcium to fewer.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Mortality with supplements.
- How was the study done?
Cohort.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
38,772 women.
- What was actually found?
Small associations both ways.
- How large was the observed effect?
HR 1.06 (MV), 0.91 (Ca).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Not proof of harm.
- What are the study's limitations?
Confounding.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Partly supports; contradicts calcium claim.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation.
-
Folic acid + B12 and cancer in Norway
Ebbing M et al.. JAMA 2009 · PMID 19920236 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2009.1622Randomised controlled trialcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedMore cancer and deaths with folic acid plus B12 in heart patients.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Cancer with B vitamins.
- How was the study done?
Pooled RCTs.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
6,837.
- What was actually found?
More cancer.
- How large was the observed effect?
HR 1.21.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Uncertain signal.
- What are the study's limitations?
Secondary.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Partly supports.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Norway.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
General harm.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (4)
-
Multivitamins and death – trials
Macpherson H et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2013 · PMID 23255568 · DOI 10.3945/ajcn.112.049304Meta-analysiscited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedNo effect on mortality.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Mortality.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
91,074.
- What was actually found?
No effect.
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 0.98.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Neither harm nor benefit.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts mortality claim.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
-
Folic acid and cancer – 50,000 trial participants
Vollset SE et al.. Lancet 2013 · PMID 23352552 · DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62001-7Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key studyNo significant effect of folic acid on cancer over about 5 years.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Folic acid and cancer.
- How was the study done?
IPD meta-analysis.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
49,621.
- What was actually found?
No significant effect.
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 1.06 (0.99–1.13).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Folic acid does not cause cancer in the short term.
- What are the study's limitations?
5 years.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-SUP-06.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Very long-term effects.
-
USPSTF evidence review 2022
O'Connor EA et al.. JAMA 2022 · PMID 35727272 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2021.15650Systematic reviewindependent cross-checkabstract only checked★ key studySupplements gave little or no protection; beta-carotene harmful; multivitamins slightly fewer cancers.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Supplement benefits/harms.
- How was the study done?
SR.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
739,803.
- What was actually found?
Little benefit; some harms.
- How large was the observed effect?
OR 0.93 MV cancer; 1.20 beta-carotene lung cancer.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Supplements are not a prevention strategy.
- What are the study's limitations?
Not for deficiency.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Mixed.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Effects in deficient people.
-
PHS II: multivitamins and heart disease
Sesso HD et al.. JAMA 2012 · PMID 23117775 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2012.14805Randomised controlled trialcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedNo reduction in heart attacks or strokes; no increase in deaths.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
CV prevention.
- How was the study done?
RCT.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
14,641.
- What was actually found?
Null.
- How large was the observed effect?
HR 1.01.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Not needed for heart.
- What are the study's limitations?
Physicians.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (1)
-
Folic acid and bowel polyps
Cole BF et al.. JAMA 2007 · PMID 17551129 · DOI 10.1001/jama.297.21.2351Randomised controlled trialcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedNo prevention of polyps; possible increase in advanced lesions (borderline).
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Adenoma prevention.
- How was the study done?
RCT.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
1,021.
- What was actually found?
No benefit.
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 1.04; 1.67 advanced.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Not useful for polyps.
- What are the study's limitations?
Attrition.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Mixed.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Harm at fortification doses.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Regional context
Germany / EU
Applies equally.
Egypt
Applies equally.
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
Potentially false Probably false: randomised trials do not show that multivitamins or folic acid increase mortality or cancer.
This statement concerns biological or medical relationships. The scientific assessment above applies regardless of the country; country-specific food data do not change it.
References
- Dietary supplements and mortality rate in older women: the Iowa Women's Health Study.. Mursu J et al.. Arch Intern Med 2011 · PMID 21987192 · DOI 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.445
- Cancer incidence and mortality after treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12.. Ebbing M et al.. JAMA 2009 · PMID 19920236 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2009.1622
- Multivitamin-multimineral supplementation and mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. Macpherson H et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2013 · PMID 23255568 · DOI 10.3945/ajcn.112.049304
- Effects of folic acid supplementation on overall and site-specific cancer incidence during the randomised trials: meta-analyses of data on 50,000 individuals.. Vollset SE et al.. Lancet 2013 · PMID 23352552 · DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62001-7
- Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.. O'Connor EA et al.. JAMA 2022 · PMID 35727272 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2021.15650
- Multivitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in men: the Physicians' Health Study II randomized controlled trial.. Sesso HD et al.. JAMA 2012 · PMID 23117775 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2012.14805
- Folic acid for the prevention of colorectal adenomas: a randomized clinical trial.. Cole BF et al.. JAMA 2007 · PMID 17551129 · DOI 10.1001/jama.297.21.2351