Diet and Supplement Combinations Linked to Health Improvements

According to a new study, following a long-term healthy diet and taking multivitamin and mineral supplements or fish oil supplements may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Following a long-term healthy diet and consuming calcium supplements may be associated with a reduced risk of obesity. 

Participants in the study included 69,990 adults who took part in the 45 and Up Study. They completed a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and 6 years later that assessed consumption of vegetables, fruit, grains, lean meat and poultry and seafood, dairy, food diversity, and alcohol. The researchers assigned a dietary consumption score to each participant, Participants also reported consumption of multivitamin and mineral supplements, fish oil supplements and calcium supplements. 

The researchers found that participants who followed a long-term healthy diet and consumed multivitamin and mineral supplements or fish oil supplements had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to all other participants in the study. Participants who followed a long-term health diet and consumed calcium supplements had a lower risk of obesity compared to all other participants in the study. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of South Wales. It was published online ahead of print on March 15, 2021 in the journal Nutrients.