Multivitamins and mineral supplements are consumed to add extra nutritional value to the body and is a multi-million dollar industry. But do they actually add any value to our lives?

This was the question a research team from the St Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto in Canada was asking when they conducted a study where they found that the most commonly used multivitamins and mineral supplements provide no health benefits but aren’t harmful either. They don’t, however, assist in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, strokes or premature death.

The study did find that folic acid alone or in combination, may reduce cardiovascular diseases and strokes but niacin and antioxidants showed little effect.

David Jenkins, lead author of the study said, "We were surprised to find so few positive effects of the most common supplements that people consume; our review found that if you want to use multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium or vitamin C, it does no harm - but there is no apparent advantage either."

Jenkins further added, "These findings suggest that people should be conscious of the supplements they're taking and ensure they're applicable to the specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies they have been advised of by their healthcare provider; In the absence of significant positive data - apart from folic acid's potential reduction in the risk of stroke and heart disease - it's most beneficial to rely on a healthy diet to get your fill of vitamins and minerals; so far, no research on supplements has shown us anything better than healthy servings of less processed plant foods including vegetables, fruits and nuts.”