DENVER — If you don’t let a day go by without taking your vitamins, consider this.

A new editorial and study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests supplements may not do anything at all when it comes to warding off serious disease.

Many people take multivitamins religiously, hoping for protection from a range of health problems including cancer and even heart attacks, but new research shows vitamins can’t stop serious disease from developing.

Dr. Rafer Leach of Guardian Urgent Care says while some supplements can help patients who have serious deficiencies, loading up on them can be dangerous. “Just taking a single multivitamin is probably not going to hurt anything but a lot of people are taking massive amounts,” he says.

This can lead to a false sense of security, causing some to be less likely to practice other healthy habits.

Even worse than not working at all, researchers say some supplements can actually land you in the hospital, especially if you’re a woman and you take extra iron.

Dr. Leach says, “Iron is definitely toxic in doses above that which is recommended.”

Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble and excess amounts can build up in the tissue and become toxic as well.

Researchers say the key to making sure you are doing all you can to prevent serious disease is to get regular medical screenings to spot the early signs of cancer or heart problems.

Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables and clean sources of protein.

Regular exercise also plays an important role in building your immune system.

Experts say it’s best to let a doctor determine whether you need to take a dietary supplement to treat a deficiency.

For more information about the safe use of supplements and other health tips you can visit www.guardianurgentcare.com

For more information on the editorial and links to other studies you can visit http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1789253