All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Nutritional supplements and diets not always protective, WVU research suggests

Safi Khan, Assistant Professor, WVU School of Medicine

Do the nutritional supplements people take or the diets they adhere to actually protect them against cardiovascular problems and death?

Maybe not, suggests a new umbrella review of meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials by Safi Khan, an assistant professor in the West Virginia University School of Medicine. His findings appear in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 

He and his colleagues analyzed 277 randomized controlled trials—in which nearly 1 million adults participated—to find out how various nutritional supplements and diets influenced mortality rates and cardiovascular outcomes. 

Of the 16 nutritional supplements considered, only two seemed beneficial: folic acid and omega-3, long-chain fatty acids. The findings suggest that taking folic acid may protect against stroke and that taking omega-3s may reduce the risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease.

“The reason we conducted this study was that millions of people in the United States and across the world consume supplements or follow certain dietary patterns, but there was no good-quality evidence to suggest that these interventions have any effect on cardiovascular protection,” Khan said.

The researchers considered whether the supplements and diets changed the rates of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease. They also evaluated the quality of the evidence that underpinned the trials’ findings.

They found that taking both calcium and vitamin may actually be harmful. The meta-analysis indicated—with moderate certainty—that taking a combination of calcium and vitamin D may increase the risk of stroke.

But taking calcium or vitamin D alone seemed to have no effect on mortality or cardiovascular outcomes whatsoever. Neither did any of the other supplements that the meta-analysis addressed, such as multivitamins, iron, folic acid, beta-carotene and antioxidants.

When the researchers turned their attention to diets, they discovered that eating less salt improved all-cause mortality rates in people with normal blood pressure. It also made cardiovascular-related deaths rarer among hypertensive people. But reducing sodium was the only diet that demonstrated any benefit. The other seven—which included eating less or different types of fat, adopting a Mediterranean diet and increasing fish-oil intake—had no effect.

“Reduced salt intake was associated with improving overall survival and cardiovascular mortality. This is something that can be backed up with logic because there is a sufficient amount of data, in various studies, that shows low salt intake basically improves hypertension, which directly influences cardiovascular outcome,” Khan said.

Evidence supporting the benefits of folic acid and omega-3s—and the detriment of combining calcium and vitamin D supplements—was less robust. For instance, the inclusion of one study from China—where diets are not usually rich in naturally occurring folic acid—may have had a disproportionate effect on the folic-acid results. And most studies relied on food diaries, which aren’t always reliable. 

“The randomized controlled trials lacked precision. They had issues in terms of methodology, in terms of the target population and in terms of when and where these studies were conducted,” Khan said. “So you have to take these findings with a pinch of salt.”

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Upshur County pool splashes back from repairs, continues busy summer with activities, parties and night swims

After a multi-day closure for repairs, the Upshur County Pool is reopening with a packed summer schedule featuring lessons, parties, night swims, and new event packages, positioning it for one of its busiest seasons yet.

Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur welcomes new members, new president for 2025-26

The Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur installed Sandi LaRosa as its new president for 2025-26 after a year marked by 1,500 service hours, significant membership growth, and numerous community grants.

Kyle and Judy Lane to celebrate 60th wedding anniversary this weekend

Kyle and Judy Lane will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a gathering at Kesling Mill Lions Club on June 21, inviting friends and family to join in marking the milestone.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital welcomes Valorie Richardson as surgical services manager

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital has appointed Valorie Richardson, a veteran surgical nurse and leader, as Manager of Surgical Services, citing her extensive experience and dedication to patient-centered care.

Upshur Update: Catch up on the latest local news in our June 17, 2025 podcast

This week’s Upshur Update podcast covers a new school cellphone policy, a hospital leadership hire, local student achievements, a DUI arrest, community outreach for houseless residents, a job opening, and record attendance at the Strawberry Festival.

Mother, son both earn degrees from WVWC School of Nursing

Mother and son Valerie and Noah Jordan both graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College’s School of Nursing during Commencement Weekend, celebrating their shared family tradition and commitment to nursing education and leadership.
Upshur County Courthouse

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for June 17, 2025

This week’s local highlights include a scholarship for the Class of 2026, a free Soulful Energy Festival, temporary service changes at Fish Hawk Acres, and open youth soccer registration for the fall.

Celebrate the summer solstice with an evening paddle hosted by the Buckhannon River Watershed Association

The Buckhannon River Watershed Association is inviting the public to a free, all-level Summer Solstice paddle and ice cream social on June 21, promoting community and river stewardship along a gentle four-mile river stretch.

Robert John Taylor Jr.

Robert John Taylor Jr., a devoted family man, avid outdoorsman, dedicated professional, and beloved community member, passed away at 71, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, service, and resilience.