CRN refutes claims made in Reader's Digest article about vitamins, supplements

WASHINGTON The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Friday issued a response to a recent article in the April 2010 issue of Reader's Digest magazine, which suggested that advice to take vitamins is a “folk tale.”

CRN pointed to an updated position paper issued in December by the American Dietetic Association, which states dietary supplements can help Americans better reach recommended consumption of nutrients, as just one affirmation as to the importance of supplementing.

“The reality is that vitamins and other dietary supplements play an important role — along with other smart choices such as healthy diet and exercise — in helping promote and maintain overall health and wellness,” stated Douglas MacKay, CRN VP scientific and regulatory affairs. “The [Reader’s Digest] article fails to put the science into perspective, cherry-picking through the scientific literature and, as the article concludes, providing ‘the Reader’s Digest Version’ to what should be a more thorough explanation of the role of vitamins.”