Save money: Skip vitamins

[Suzanne Havala Hobbs]

Save money: Skip vitamins

I have a money-saving tip that's better than clipping coupons: Cut back on the number of vitamin supplements you buy.

Three out of four American households buy vitamin and mineral supplements, spending $7 billion last year, according to industry figures reported earlier this month by The Wall Street Journal. But you may be surprised to hear this: In most cases, there's actually little evidence to show most supplements are effective. And sometimes high doses can be harmful.

There are exceptions, of course. For example, there's good evidence that folic acid, a B vitamin, can help prevent neural tube defects in babies if their mothers take supplements before pregnancy.

But a long list of vitamins and minerals once thought to be surefire ammo against heart disease and cancer have turned out to be duds, according to recent research.

Antioxidants serve as a good example of how the science has shifted.

Ten years ago, people were popping vitamin E to protect their hearts, and vitamin C was good for whatever ailed you.

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