So Effective, and So Safe

Scurvy may seem like an antiquated affliction suffered by sailors and scalawags, but insufficient vitamin intake can cause chronic diseases even in contemporary populations. In fact, vitamin deficiency is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, and breast cancer, to name just three. But prevention is possible with a healthy diet and the right regimen of supplements. And according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), vitamins may be the safest way to eat your alphabet.

At least 30 percent of US residents regularly take vitamins—that’s more than 53 billion doses every year. And, reassuringly, vitamins have earned their reputation as safe supplements. In its 2003 annual report, the AAPCC found only two deaths allegedly caused by vitamins, in comparison to pharmaceutical drugs, which are directly responsible for more than 106,000 deaths each year in the US alone. With such a strong safety record, vitamins are a cost-effective, safe bet when it comes to preventive medicine.

—Jennifer Winger

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