Meta-analysiscited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked A-SUP-26 standard review
Multivitamins and death – trials
Multivitamin-multimineral supplementation and mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Overview
Macpherson H et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2013 · PMID 23255568 · DOI 10.3945/ajcn.112.049304
No effect on mortality.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high
Plain-language summary
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.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Macpherson H, Pipingas A, Pase MP
- Journal
- Am J Clin Nutr
- Year
- 2013
- Identifier
- PMID 23255568 DOI 10.3945/ajcn.112.049304
- Verification
- verified – PubMed E-utilities efetch, 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
Does multivitamin-multimineral supplementation increase mortality?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Meta-analysis of RCTs
- Population
Independently living adults
- Country
Multinational
- Period
searched 2012
- Sample size
21 trials, 91,074, 8,794 deaths
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
see abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Daily MVMM ≥1 year
- Comparator
Placebo
- Endpoints
All-cause, vascular, cancer mortality
- Statistical methods
Pooled RR
5. Actual results
- Results
All-cause RR 0.98 (0.94–1.02); primary prevention RR 0.94 (0.89–1.00); vascular RR 1.01; cancer RR 0.96.
- Absolute risks
not reported in abstract
- Authors' conclusion
Multivitamin-multimineral treatment has no effect on mortality risk.
6. Strengths
- RCT-based
7. Weaknesses
- Heterogeneous products
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- low
- Rationale
AMSTAR-2-oriented.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
See results.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
High: biology and trial populations comparable to European adults.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Robust null.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | high |
| Risk of bias | low |
| Precision of results | high |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | taken out of context |
14. Open questions
15. Linked fact checks
- When popular oral supplements (calcium, beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3, multivitamins, glucosamine, selenium, vitamin A) were tested in large long-term placebo-controlled trials, most failed to deliver the promised prevention of disease. – Studies supporting the claim
- Multivitamins, iron, folic acid, B6, magnesium, zinc and copper supplements increase mortality, and folic acid (with B12) increases cancer. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim
Use by the Tayebat archive
Note: according to the archive, the studies were compiled by the archive operators. Whether Dr. Elawady himself cited this study is not established.
- What the archive says about the study
Listed in the archive bibliography of the oral-supplements rule without its own interpretation; used implicitly to support the rule summary that supplements 'failed or caused harm' in large trials.
- A. What was actually studied?
Does multivitamin-multimineral supplementation increase mortality?
- B. What did the authors find?
All-cause RR 0.98 (0.94–1.02); primary prevention RR 0.94 (0.89–1.00); vascular RR 1.01; cancer RR 0.96.
- C. What conclusions do the authors themselves draw?
Multivitamin-multimineral treatment has no effect on mortality risk.
- D. What does the archive derive from it?
Cited in a rule claiming supplements caused harm.
- E. Is this derivation scientifically justified?
No: this study shows no mortality effect and contradicts the archive's Iowa-based mortality claim.
- Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)
- taken out of context