We found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention. Beta-carotene and vitamin E seem to increase mortality, and so may higher doses of vitamin A. Antioxidant supplements need to be considered as medicinal products and should undergo sufficient evaluation before marketing.
Effect of multivitamin and multimineral supplements on morbidity from infections in older people (MAVIS trial): pragmatic, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.
To examine whether supplementation with multivitamins and multiminerals influences self reported days of infection, use of health services, and quality of life in people aged 65 or over.
                Randomised, placebo controlled trial, with blinding of participants, outcome assessors, and investigators.
                Communities associated with six general practices in Grampian, Scotland.
                910 men and women aged 65 or over who did not take vitamins or minerals.
                Daily multivitamin and multimineral supplementation or placebo for one year.
                Primary outcomes were contacts with primary care for infections, self reported days of infection, and quality of life. Secondary outcomes included antibiotic prescriptions, hospital admissions, adverse events, and compliance.
                Supplementation did not significantly affect contacts with primary care and days of infection per person (incidence rate ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.19 and 1.07, 0.90 to 1.27). Quality of life was not affected by supplementation. No statistically significant findings were found for secondary outcomes or subgroups.
                Routine multivitamin and multimineral supplementation of older people living at home does not affect self reported infection related morbidity.
                ISRCTN: 66376460.