The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) also recommends against using vitamin E<\/a> and beta carotene<\/a> supplements to prevent heart disease or cancer in healthy adults.\n<\/p>\n Vitamin E supplements offer no protective benefits against cancer or cardiovascular disease, according to John Wong, MD<\/a>, a professor of medicine at Tufts University and a member of the USPSTF.\n<\/p>\n Beta carotene supplements, which convert into vitamin A in the body, can even increase the risk of lung cancer<\/a> in individuals who already have certain risk factors, like smoking or occupational exposure to asbestos.\n<\/p>\n Some supplements might also interfere with your regular medications<\/a>. For instance, St. John\u2019s wort<\/a>, an herb that has been used to treat depression and poor sleep, can interact with birth control.\n<\/p>\n Even when supplements don\u2019t cause harm, getting too much of them may be unnecessary, as they go unused by the body.<\/p>\n Why People Still Take Supplements <\/p>\n Despite little evidence showing benefits for taking multivitamins or mineral supplements<\/a>, Americans spend billions of dollars each year on dietary supplements.\n<\/p>\n \u201cPeople like something tangible when it comes to health. It\u2019s often easier to take a pill than invest in behavior, diet, and lifestyle change,\u201d Melissa Majumdar, MS, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian and bariatric surgery coordinator with Emory University Hospital Midtown, told Verywell in an email.\n<\/p>\n Before taking a supplement, experts advise considering the potential for misleading health claims<\/a> on the label. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn\u2019t evaluate dietary supplements for safety or efficacy. Some supplement labels promote unproven claims that the product has \u201cno side effects\u201d or is \u201cbetter than\u201d a prescription drug.<\/p>\n When Supplements May Be Needed <\/p>\n The USPSTF does recommend some supplements. For example, folic acid<\/a>, also known as vitamin B9, got an\u00a0\u201cA\u201d rating for use in pregnant adults as it helps prevent certain birth defects<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Although some foods are fortified with folic acid, it\u2019s still difficult to get enough of this vitamin through diet alone.\n<\/p>\n Vitamin D<\/a> is another nutrient that can be difficult to obtain entirely through diet. Some people may struggle to absorb enough vitamin D through sun exposure and foods like fatty fish and beef liver.\n<\/p>\n \u201cVitamin D insufficiency<\/a> is more common among individuals with darker skin, those living in Northern latitudes, and those who avoid sun exposure,\u201d said Emma Laing, PhD, RDN<\/a>, a clinical professor at the University of Georgia and a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.\n<\/p>\n However, excess Vitamin D<\/a> can cause health issues, such as kidney stones<\/a>, confusion, and vomiting. You can ask your healthcare provider for a blood test to determine if you need to take vitamin D supplements.\n<\/p>\n Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process<\/a> to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.<\/p>\n Loftfield E, O’Connell CP, Abnet CC, et al. Multivitamin use and mortality risk in 3 prospective US cohorts<\/a>.\u00a0JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(6):e2418729. doi:10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2024.18729<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor EA, Evans CV, Ivlev I, et al. Vitamin and mineral supplements for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer:\u00a0updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force<\/a>.\u00a0JAMA.\u00a02022;327(23):2334\u20132347. doi:10.1001\/jama.2021.15650<\/p>\n U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Preventive Medication [Final Recommendation Statement]<\/a>.<\/p>\n Middha P, Weinstein SJ, M\u00e4nnist\u00f6 S, Albanes D, Mondul AM. \u03b2-carotene supplementation and lung cancer incidence in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cancer prevention study: the role of tar and nicotine<\/a>.\u00a0Nicotine Tob Res. 2019;21(8):1045-1050. doi:10.1093\/ntr\/nty115<\/p>\n Nicolussi S, Drewe J, Butterweck V, Meyer Zu Schwabedissen HE. Clinical relevance of St. John’s wort drug interactions revisited<\/a>.\u00a0Br J Pharmacol. 2020;177(6):1212-1226. doi:10.1111\/bph.14936<\/p>\n National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Americans spend $30 billion a year out-of-pocket on complementary health approaches<\/a>.<\/p>\n Food and Drug Administration. FDA 101: dietary supplements<\/a>.<\/p>\n Food and Drug Administration. Talking to healthcare professionals about dietary supplements<\/a>.<\/p>\n U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects: preventive medication [Final recommendations statement]<\/a>.<\/p>\n National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Stephanie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/StephanieBrownnewheadshot-e5ca9ba2a404491384e9300a7871f190.jpg\")
<\/p>\n