Good information about vitamins is hard to find. With over 70% of Americans and 40% of Brits using them, it's a hugely lucrative market, which means numerous voices in the media and online pusing a pro-vitamin agenda. All without the scientific evidence to support their claims.

So do we need vitamins to lead a healthy life? Or could these supplements actually cause serious health complications?

In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Prof. JoAnn Manson and Dr. Sarah Berry to better understand how vitamin supplements affect our health.

JoAnn Manson is a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the world's most cited researchers. She’s run multiple enormous studies, with over 20,000 participants, to uncover the real effects of vitamin supplementation on our health.
Dr. Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition. She has run more than 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.

Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
00:29 - Quickfire questions
02:34 - Why are people confused about supplements?
03:25 - Which supplement does the majority of the population benefit from taking and why?
03:59 - What are dietary supplements and vitamins?
07:45 - Why is there so much advertising suggesting supplements?
09:15 - JoAnn’s research
12:41 - About vitamin C
13:50 - Megadosing
18:36 - VITAL and COSMOS trials
24:05 - Should we take vitamin D
26:37 - Omega-3
31:54 - Variation & personalization
36:08 - Actionable advice on supplements
38:07 - Should children take supplements?
41:46 - Should we all take a standard dose multivitamin?
44:36 - Summary
46:10 - Goodbyes
46:41 - Outro

Episode transcripts are available here.

Check the trials mentioned in today’s episode:
AREDS 2: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

COSMOS: https://cosmostrial.org/

Physicians' Health Study II: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/N...

VITAL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/N...

Follow Sarah:   / saraheeberry  

Follow ZOE on Instagram:   / zoe  

This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.